Marnus Labuschagne hits back after Steve Waugh rips Aussie Ashes 'mistake'

Marnus Labuschagne has defended Australia's decision not to play a front-line spinner in the fourth Ashes Test, following criticism and queries from Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. The Aussies are playing without a specialist tweaker for the first time in 11 years, after Todd Murphy was dropped and all-rounders Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green both included.

It means part-timer Travis Head will be Australia's first-choice spinner, if the Aussies need another option outside of pace bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marsh and Green. And while Murphy only bowled nine overs in the third Test and was largely ineffective, a number of cricket greats have questioned the decision to do away with a front-line spinner.

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Speaking on SEN radio, former Test captain Waugh said: "I tend to disagree with it. I think it's a mistake, particularly in Manchester where the ball does turn.

"I know they're probably looking at the forecast and saying there's a bit of rain around, but you do need variation in the attack. Particularly with the way England plays. They go at the bowlers really hard and we've got four right-arm quick bowlers, so there's a bit of sameness about our attack."

Ponting also expressed his confusion after watching Moeen Ali generate some considerable spin on the opening day. "I was still surprised they didn't go in with [a spinner]," Ponting said about the Aussies.

"Your preference is always to go in with a spinner – unless you are brilliant at reading weather forecasts and cricket pitches. So if you haven't got one, you can be found out very easy."

Marnus Labuschagne's defiant call on no Aussie spinner

But Labuschagne, who was trapped lbw by Moeen on 51, moved to explain why the ball spun more than expected on the opening day and predicted it would lessen as the match continues. The Aussie batter said he believed it could have been a result of a thick grass cover left on the wicket, which will flatten out later in the game.

"Because the wicket has been undercover for a few days, it didn't have that really rock-hardness," Labuschagne said. "And the thatchy grass is spinning. So once that wears off, I think the middle of the week it's going to actually not spin so much.

"The ends will rough up, eventually, if the weather stays good. But I think it's actually going to spin less as the game goes on from the good part of the wicket."

England great Stuart Broad was also confused by Australia's call, pointing out that Old Trafford is traditionally the venue that promotes the most spin in the UK. "Moeen bowled great today and bowled some wicket-taking deliveries, and we saw a couple spin to the left (handers) as well," he said.

"That's something that I'm sure worried (Australia) a little bit when they saw. Ultimately it looks a very dangerous team - they've got 300 runs on the board with their batting group and we've still got 12 wickets to get (to have a chance to win) the Test. We can judge that selection once two innings are gone."

Australia went to stumps at 8-299, with many commentators critical of their inability to cash in after getting starts. Seven Aussie batters made it to 20, while Labuschagne, Marsh (51), Steve Smith (41) and Travis Head (48) all failed to make the most of friendly batting conditions.

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