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Sport
Scott Bailey

Archer mentor spots Labuschagne concern

The West Indies believe prolific Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne may be vulnerable to the bouncer. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Jofra Archer's one-time bowling mentor claims the English quick would have taken notice of Alzarri Joseph's bouncer barrage at Marnus Labuschagne in Perth.

Labuschagne will enter the Adelaide Test off the back of a brilliant series opener against West Indies, with scores of 204 and 104no at Optus Stadium.

But it's the right-hander's performance in one spell that has West Indies interested.

Bounced by Joseph on the fourth morning, Labuschagne top-edged one ball for six before the next ball clattered off his bat and into his helmet before being caught.

Labuschagne was spared when Joseph overstepped, but West Indies bowling coach Rod Estwick indicated his team planned on replicating the tactic in Adelaide.

"We will have a look," Estwick said.

"We will see if he is uncomfortable here and then we will try and target them as much as possible."

And as the man who coached Archer in Barbados as a teenager and regularly stays in contact with the England quick, Estwick claimed it was likely the 27-year-old would go after Labuschagne in next year's Ashes.

The cricket world is so small now, you can't hide," Estwick said.

"And once any team exposes a weakness, the other teams will be having a look.

"I am sure Jofra Archer wherever he is sitting will be having a look and ticking some boxes and things like that. That is the way cricket goes, you cannot hide.

"But if Marnus thinks he has a weakness I am sure he will go away and work on it as well. If you're a professional cricketer these things happen."

The West Indian's comments come after South Africa captain Dean Elgar said "the odd bouncer" appeared the best tactic to knock over Labuschagne in the three Tests this summer.

South Africa will boast one of the world's most impressive pace attacks when they play in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje.

Labuschagne said after his century he was largely able to isolate the Joseph spell, with Australia chasing quick runs in their second innings.

But the Queenslander added he would be closely working on the short ball.

"A lot of the West Indian bowlers bowl from really wide of the crease, so sometimes that angle is quite tough to get inside the line of the ball," Labuschagne said.

"When guys bowl a bit tighter to the stumps, it is easier to get your head on the inside of the ball so you can duck or get on the top of the ball.

"It's one I am always going to be looking at.

"Looking at some of my pull shots, making sure I am opening my left hip up to access the ball. Making sure I am getting on top of the bounce."

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