Labuschagne tips England to stick to short-pitched tactics

Marnus Labuschagne expects to be the target of another bouncer barrage during the Vodafone Boxing Day Test despite England's limited success with the tactic in Adelaide.

England's approach has remained at the forefront of the fallout from their second Test loss, with captain Joe Root under fire for admitting his attack bowled too short and didn't change plans.

Beyond the back-of-a-length attack, England appeared to enter Adelaide with a pre-conceived plan to go short with fielders back on the pull and hook shot for Ben Stokes' bowling in particular.

The fact they did that with quick Mark Wood rested has also raised eyebrows, given he is the only man in England's attack able to bowl at above 145km/h.

England's only real threat with the tactic came against Labuschagne, who gloved a short ball down legside trying to pull Stokes but was dropped by Jos Buttler.

And with Wood likely to return for MCG Test with England 2-0 down, Labuschagne expects to again have the ball aimed at his chest with fielders back.

"Yeah I probably do (expect to be bounced)," Labuschagne said. 

"Mark Wood obviously didn't play this game and the way I look at it, that was potentially to play at least one of the next two games

"The game plan almost worked.

"It's a tactic they might use a little bit more depending on if I get out early or if I stay at the crease a little bit longer.

"My job is just making sure I'm ready and I have all bases covered and when time comes and they do go short then I'm ready for it."

Labuschagne can next week become the third Australian to score centuries in every mainland state in the first three summers of their Test career.

Fifteen Australians have achieved the full house, with only Mike Hussey and Steve Smith having done so in such rapid time.

But such is Labuschagne's clear thirst for runs, a big score well beyond 100 is what he craves in a bid to bat England out of the Ashes.

"I want to score a hundred every game, but unfortunately it doesn't always work like that," Labuschagne said. 

"Even though I scored some runs (in Adelaide) I was still disappointed that I didn't go on and make a really big score and really shut the game out. 

"I had the opportunity ... especially after having been dropped and getting a chance off a no-ball. 

"There's lots for me to learn (from Adelaide) and hopefully take it to Boxing Day and make sure that if I get to a 100 I make it a really big score."

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena