No more 'opening-itis': Next man up for Aust at Lord's
Eighteen months after joking Marnus Labuschagne had "opening-itis", Usman Khawaja believes his Queensland teammate can fill the role for Australia's World Test Championship final.
Khawaja is almost certain to have another new opening partner for the decider against South Africa at Lord's, starting on Wednesday.
Since David Warner retired from Tests in January 2024, Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Travis Head have all joined Khawaja at the top of the order.
Smith is locked in to bat at No.4, Konstas is unlikely to play, and Head will come in at No.5 as Australia gun for back-to-back WTC titles.
Khawaja on Monday still joked Labuschagne wasn't over the "opening-itis" that eventually led to Smith being promoted to open for four Tests, but declared every Australian would do what was best for the team.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Khawaja said at Lord's on Monday at a launch for Prime Video's exclusive Australian coverage of the WTC final.
"So you just be humble that you're playing for Australia, and then you take what you get and you make the best out of it.
"At the end of the day, it's a team game.
"I know the best place for me to bat for the team is to open.
"So I'm very happy to open and do my role for the team.
"I'm sure if it's the same for Marnus, 100 per cent I know he'll take that."
The opening dilemma comes at a flashpoint in Labuschagne's career. The 30-year-old hasn't scored a Test century since his 111 against England at Manchester in July 2023.
Labuschagne made some important contributions as Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy last summer, without converting an innings into three figures.
He is undoubtedly the batter under the most pressure in Australia's top-six.
"He's opened before. He started off for Queensland opening," Khawaja said.
"You bat three, I think opening is an easier transition.
"Marnus is a terrific player, so if he gets an opportunity, I'm sure he'll be fine."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Eighteen months after joking Marnus Labuschagne had "opening-itis", Usman Khawaja believes his Queensland teammate can fill the role for Australia's World Test Championship final.
Khawaja is almost certain to have another new opening partner for the decider against South Africa at Lord's, starting on Wednesday.
Since David Warner retired from Tests in January 2024, Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Travis Head have all joined Khawaja at the top of the order.
Smith is locked in to bat at No.4, Konstas is unlikely to play, and Head will come in at No.5 as Australia gun for back-to-back WTC titles.
Khawaja on Monday still joked Labuschagne wasn't over the "opening-itis" that eventually led to Smith being promoted to open for four Tests, but declared every Australian would do what was best for the team.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Khawaja said at Lord's on Monday at a launch for Prime Video's exclusive Australian coverage of the WTC final.
"So you just be humble that you're playing for Australia, and then you take what you get and you make the best out of it.
"At the end of the day, it's a team game.
"I know the best place for me to bat for the team is to open.
"So I'm very happy to open and do my role for the team.
"I'm sure if it's the same for Marnus, 100 per cent I know he'll take that."
The opening dilemma comes at a flashpoint in Labuschagne's career. The 30-year-old hasn't scored a Test century since his 111 against England at Manchester in July 2023.
Labuschagne made some important contributions as Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy last summer, without converting an innings into three figures.
He is undoubtedly the batter under the most pressure in Australia's top-six.
"He's opened before. He started off for Queensland opening," Khawaja said.
"You bat three, I think opening is an easier transition.
"Marnus is a terrific player, so if he gets an opportunity, I'm sure he'll be fine."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Eighteen months after joking Marnus Labuschagne had "opening-itis", Usman Khawaja believes his Queensland teammate can fill the role for Australia's World Test Championship final.
Khawaja is almost certain to have another new opening partner for the decider against South Africa at Lord's, starting on Wednesday.
Since David Warner retired from Tests in January 2024, Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Travis Head have all joined Khawaja at the top of the order.
Smith is locked in to bat at No.4, Konstas is unlikely to play, and Head will come in at No.5 as Australia gun for back-to-back WTC titles.
Khawaja on Monday still joked Labuschagne wasn't over the "opening-itis" that eventually led to Smith being promoted to open for four Tests, but declared every Australian would do what was best for the team.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Khawaja said at Lord's on Monday at a launch for Prime Video's exclusive Australian coverage of the WTC final.
"So you just be humble that you're playing for Australia, and then you take what you get and you make the best out of it.
"At the end of the day, it's a team game.
"I know the best place for me to bat for the team is to open.
"So I'm very happy to open and do my role for the team.
"I'm sure if it's the same for Marnus, 100 per cent I know he'll take that."
The opening dilemma comes at a flashpoint in Labuschagne's career. The 30-year-old hasn't scored a Test century since his 111 against England at Manchester in July 2023.
Labuschagne made some important contributions as Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy last summer, without converting an innings into three figures.
He is undoubtedly the batter under the most pressure in Australia's top-six.
"He's opened before. He started off for Queensland opening," Khawaja said.
"You bat three, I think opening is an easier transition.
"Marnus is a terrific player, so if he gets an opportunity, I'm sure he'll be fine."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
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Lions arrive in Australia with concerns over Irish duo
The British & Irish Lions have touched down in Australia with head coach Andy Farrell revealing there remain lingering injury concerns over Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan. Farrell's squad arrived into Perth after a 20-hour journey from Dublin via Doha ahead of Saturday's opening fixture on Australian soil against the Western Force. There's doubt over whether Ireland duo Gibson-Park and Keenan will be able to take part at Optus Stadium because of respective glute and calf problems, but Scotland centre Huw Jones has recovered from an Achilles issue and is available. "We'll see how they pull up in midweek," Farrell said of Gibson-Park and Keenan. "Huw Jones is good, he's been training. He trained fully with us last week so he's up and running." Farrell confirmed the team against Western Force will mostly be made up of players from Leinster, Bath and Leicester, who joined up with the Lions after last Saturday's United Rugby Championship and Premiership finals. There were no fresh injuries arising from Friday's 28-24 defeat by Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, with Farrell keen not to dwell on the disappointing tour send-off. "We're here to build for what's going to be a fantastic Test series. We want to play some good rugby along the way," he said. "We'll find out more about each other as we keep on going. Of course, we'll analyse what went on against Argentina and why, but that's all part of the journey - to understand where we need to go next. "It's great to be here, this is what it's all about. We're here for a good time. Hopefully we can start this part of the tour off really well on Saturday." English star Tom Curry warned his teammates they cannot afford to waste a moment in their search for respect as they target an immediate response to the Pumas' loss. "The thing with this sport and this tour is that it comes and goes so quickly. You've got to make the most of it," the England flanker said. "Every meeting and every session. Before you know it we'll be playing in Australia so we can't let moments pass us by. "We speak a lot about respect with our own teammates. We've only got six weeks together. Respect is so hard to earn but so easy to lose. "It's really important that every session and meeting we turn up and push in the right direction. "We have got to pull tighter, it's the only way. I feel like this group has taken so many steps off the field. I haven't got a bad word to say about anyone."
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Loading Key posts 11.19pm 'They were sharp, we were the opposite': Scott 10.55pm Lions clear Fagan's whiteboard after last hoodoo ends 10.35pm Analysis: How the hoodoo was broken 10.19pm FT: Brisbane 14.8 (92) d Geelong 6.15 (51) 9.43pm Discount Pies: How these old champs are on low contracts 9.03pm The Cats are lucky to be only 23 points down 7.27pm Cats follow Penn State's 'whiteout' 7.16pm Gardiner out sick but Andrews backs Lions to stand up Hide key posts Posts area Go to latest Pinned post from 10.35pm on Jun 20, 2025 Analysis: How the hoodoo was broken The Brisbane Lions have broken the last hoodoo of Chris Fagan's reign at the club, recording their first win at Kardinia Park since 2003 to ruin the Cats' celebrations for Patrick Dangerfield's 350th game milestone. The Lions dominated the contest from start to finish, kicking four goals in seven minutes in the first quarter to open up a lead that was never challenged and eventually ran out 41 point winners, restricting Geelong to just six goals in the process. The Lions' early ascendancy came on the back of clearance dominance, and with a lead they attacked bravely and quickly from the back half. Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft, Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry were brilliant with Lachie Neale well held. The Lions' approach was obvious, with rebounding defender Dayne Zorko smashing the ball back as quickly as it arrived to stop the Cats' defence from settling. It rattled the Cats, who could not hold them up defensively and could not score. In the first half Geelong scored just 23 points, their lowest first-half score for the season and by midway through the third quarter, the Lions led by 45 points. From there the result was never in doubt. Cam Rayner was the best player on the ground, kicking goals at the start of the third and fourth quarter to silence the crowd and snuff out any momentum. Logan Morris was also outstanding with five majors. The T-shirts handed out to create a strong visual effect pre-game were suddenly useful as surrender flags. The Cats had no answer with their ball use uncharacteristically poor. High half-forwards Gryan Miers and Brad Close were the main offenders as they kicked into an impotent forward line. Only Jeremy Cameron, with four goals, won his position. Dangerfield and Stengle were quiet in their milestone games, and Shannon Neale was given a lesson by All-Australian defender Harris Andrews as the Lions' co-captain took five intercept marks. Without Tom Atkins, Jack Henry and Tom Stewart the margin would have been even bigger, with that trio trying hard. Having struggled with their accuracy in their past two matches, the Lions found their target. It was Geelong who fluffed their chances, missing set shots regularly as they were smashed 6.15 (51) to the Lions' 14.8 (92). This win allows the reigning premiers to reclaim second spot on the ladder from Geelong, and move back on to the winner's list after two straight losses. The loss ended an unbroken run of five straight wins for the Cats as both clubs head towards the bye. 11.32pm on Jun 20, 2025 That's all for tonight Thanks so much for joining us this evening. That's all we have for you as the Lions record a big win over Geelong. We will be back with a fresh blog on Saturday afternoon, so please join us then. Bye for now. 11.19pm on Jun 20, 2025 'They were sharp, we were the opposite': Scott Cats coach Chris Scott spoke to the media post-game. On the match: Yeah, more about the occasion based on the opposition. Like, each to their own, and celebrating those achievements, in my mind, it doesn't change much at all. You would like to play better, but you have heard me say for 15 years, Pete [Ryan], that if you need a milestone to try, then you are not a true professional. We played a really good team and they were sharp tonight, and we were the opposite. If that is a pattern throughout your games, then you have a problem, and you may not be a very good team. I don't think it is the case with us. It hasn't been a pattern, it was a bad game to have an off night against them, because sometimes you can have an off night and get away with it, but you can't against the opposition of that quality. I didn't think it was a complete disaster, like the scoreboard got out of control in a way based on their initiative, and they kicked for goal differently to the way they had in previous weeks, and we kicked a bit more like they have. Even at three-quarter-time, obviously we were well and truly up against it – the expected score was pretty tight. Yeah, there was just some uncharacteristic stuff. Again, if is a pattern, then that compounded means you're a bad team. I don't think that is us. There was some stuff tonight. It is not complicated, it is just the stuff that we all saw – skill errors, a little bit of method stuff, but a lot of it was execution... This might be one we will put in the category of 'beaten by a better team on the night'. By next week, [there's a] chance to regroup and we will be in good shape. On Brisbane wanting to end their losing streak in Geelong: I am sure they did, and they have a right to feel proud of themselves and I thought they played really well. But, again, I almost take offence to the idea that, you know, if they were us, for example, I wouldn't like the accusation that you really steeled yourself for this one. I didn't look at us and think, gee, we were off because of effort, or we took the opposition easily. We were crystal clear on what they could be, and they played the way we expected. We just weren't good enough on the night to counter it. On goal kicking and the winning margin: [Logan] Morris kicked a snap from the boundary and Pat [Dangerfield] had one 10 metres inside, which is usually put down your glasses, and he missed it – that's what it looked like to our observation. It's not that we think if we kicked straight we would have won the game, I'm not saying that – I'm saying that it wasn't a disaster where you lose by a lot and were never a chance. We were getting chances to be competitive, it just felt like one of those nights, and I said this to the players – it felt like what could go wrong, did go wrong. It happens to the best teams. I don't know where we are now but sitting back 10-5 going into the bye, I don't think we will be dwelling on this for too long. On Brisbane's quality and depth: If they are not the best, and they probably are, then they are the deepest. Their first, second and third-year guys are guns, and it is not as if they are relying on them to be their first, second or third midfielders. They are behind a Brownlow medallist [Lachie Neale] and another guy who might win it, just in their midfield, so they are going to be well-served for a while yet, I reckon. 10.55pm on Jun 20, 2025 Lions clear Fagan's whiteboard after last hoodoo ends Lions coach Chris Fagan spoke to Fox Footy post-game. On finally winning in Geelong and, earlier this season, ending their long losing streaks to Richmond and Hawthorn at the MCG: The last of the hoodoos – I put it up on the board this week. It's the only thing we hadn't done in my time at the club, was beat Geelong in Geelong. It's a pretty exciting night. We've got them all – Richmond, Hawks and more. There were a lot of them. It's been a nice way to build that confidence and belief in ourselves as there were an awful lot of hoodoos [when he first arrived] and something we hadn't done in a long time, so that was very exciting. On coming to Melbourne earlier: We just felt if we came down a little earlier, we might have a bit more energy. It wasn't my idea, it was Danny Daly, my football manager, and I think some of the leaders who wanted it, and it worked well for us. On how he handled their recent losses: I just pointed out to the players the positives. We had a tremendous performance against Adelaide in Adelaide and that's hard to do, and we kicked 13.18 last week – I just pointed out that we did everything but win the game, and we shouldn't lose confidence in ourselves. We should just keep doing what we are doing and things will turn. We didn't do any extra goal kicking practice this week – we just did what we normally do. On the importance of goal kicking: It is without a doubt the most important stat in football, that one, and tonight they didn't kick accurately, which is unlike them. I read a stat today that they are the most accurate side in football, and I thought that would bode well for us, given our kicking, but is funny how footy goes sometimes. On Logan Morris starring in the past two weeks, and Kai Lohmann playing well tonight: I was a little bit worried as he got some media attention this week for his efforts, so I said to him, 'Mate, keep your feet on the ground', but he told me he was OK, and he showed that tonight. I was really happy for Kai as he's been battling. He was sub last week and didn't play that well when he came on, but I rang him on Sunday and said, 'I'm going to play you this week, be ready' and he was tonight. 10.38pm on Jun 20, 2025 'Unbelievable win': Dunkley Josh Dunkley spoke to Channel Seven post-game. You came down here and spoiled the party – the first win (for the Lions) at GMHBA Stadium in 22 years... It is an unbelievable win for us. I think we felt we could come here and make a statement, but the last couple of weeks were disappointing – we couldn't kick straight. But we have full belief in our ability. It was a genuine performance across all three lines. How impressed were you to get it done, stop their ball movement and take it back to them? That is all we were looking to do heading into the game, and it is great to see Kai Lohmann get back onto the scoreboard and hit some form. It is nice for our group to build some confidence, have a bye and have a rest and go again. Lohmann looks like a genuine fire starter when he is up and about. How does that get you going through the midfield and the back line? It is pretty funny – all the young boys, they are so good, they bring so much energy to our group, and us older fellas, I am an older fella... it is great to have them around. 10.35pm on Jun 20, 2025 Analysis: How the hoodoo was broken The Brisbane Lions have broken the last hoodoo of Chris Fagan's reign at the club, recording their first win at Kardinia Park since 2003 to ruin the Cats' celebrations for Patrick Dangerfield's 350th game milestone. The Lions dominated the contest from start to finish, kicking four goals in seven minutes in the first quarter to open up a lead that was never challenged and eventually ran out 41 point winners, restricting Geelong to just six goals in the process. The Lions' early ascendancy came on the back of clearance dominance, and with a lead they attacked bravely and quickly from the back half. Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft, Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry were brilliant with Lachie Neale well held. The Lions' approach was obvious, with rebounding defender Dayne Zorko smashing the ball back as quickly as it arrived to stop the Cats' defence from settling. It rattled the Cats, who could not hold them up defensively and could not score. In the first half Geelong scored just 23 points, their lowest first-half score for the season and by midway through the third quarter, the Lions led by 45 points. From there the result was never in doubt. Cam Rayner was the best player on the ground, kicking goals at the start of the third and fourth quarter to silence the crowd and snuff out any momentum. Logan Morris was also outstanding with five majors. The T-shirts handed out to create a strong visual effect pre-game were suddenly useful as surrender flags. The Cats had no answer with their ball use uncharacteristically poor. High half-forwards Gryan Miers and Brad Close were the main offenders as they kicked into an impotent forward line. Only Jeremy Cameron, with four goals, won his position. Dangerfield and Stengle were quiet in their milestone games, and Shannon Neale was given a lesson by All-Australian defender Harris Andrews as the Lions' co-captain took five intercept marks. Without Tom Atkins, Jack Henry and Tom Stewart the margin would have been even bigger, with that trio trying hard. Having struggled with their accuracy in their past two matches, the Lions found their target. It was Geelong who fluffed their chances, missing set shots regularly as they were smashed 6.15 (51) to the Lions' 14.8 (92). This win allows the reigning premiers to reclaim second spot on the ladder from Geelong, and move back on to the winner's list after two straight losses. The loss ended an unbroken run of five straight wins for the Cats as both clubs head towards the bye. 10.28pm on Jun 20, 2025 Full-time stats 'The boys really dug in': Rayner Lions star Cam Rayner knew his side was fired up, and they turned on one of their best performances of the year in beating the Cats in Geelong tonight. 'We seem to be playing great on the road this year and not that well at the Gabba,' Rayner told Fox Footy. 'We knew we hadn't won in Geelong in 20 years, and they've been in great form. The boys really dug in and played our brand of footy. 'We were really on today, and we built ourselves up for this one. We knew we had to be on our best game, and we were today.' 10.19pm on Jun 20, 2025 FT: Brisbane 14.8 (92) d Geelong 6.15 (51) Brisbane were down two big defenders but shrugged off an even bigger historical weight while spoiling Patrick Dangerfield's 350th game in Geelong on Friday night. The Lions claimed their first win at Kardinia Park since 2003 with Logan Morris booting five goals and Cam Rayner three as the Lions had winners all over the ground, building an early lead and growing it in the second half. It was a memorable win for Lions fans and a night to forget for the Cats faithful, who turned up for the whiteout night and ended up witnessing a whitewash. 10.15pm on Jun 20, 2025 Lions haven't won in Geelong since 2003 The Lions have made history, breaking a losing hoodoo at this ground that dates back to 2003. Last time they won in Geelong, Marcus Ashcroft was playing his 299th game, and now two of his sons are playing for the Lions. That says a lot. Kai Lohmann has snapped another goal, too. Lions 92, Cats 51 with two mins to play.
