The batter was confident that CA and the government would be able to find a solution
The issue has been bubbling away in recent months, during which Cricket Australia has been in talks with state and federal governments.
Australia’s strict border policy is unlikely to be drastically eased by the end of this year, while interstate travel also remains clouded by Covid-19.
Labuschagne couldn’t recall discussing the issue with Root and veteran paceman Jimmy Anderson, whom he crossed paths with while playing county cricket this year, bhe understood the tourists’ unease.
“The welfare of players and making sure families can come out here is important,” Labuschagne told reporters in Brisbane. “You don’t need to be a cricketer to recognise the importance of making sure the mental health of all players is in a good space.
“Especially with a T20 World Cup followed by an Ashes, it’s a really long four or five months.
“But I have no doubt, between the government and Cricket Australia, we’ll be able to sort it out and get ourselves in a position where we can have a full-strength England against a full-strength Australia.”
“Everyone out here wants to see Jimmy come to Australia,” he said.
Labuschagne, who has gone from strength to strength under Langer since being thrust into the 2019 Lord’s Ashes Test as a concussion substitute, said “it’s never nice when it comes out like it has”.
“It’s been spoken about, that it comes to a head now. Conversations have been had, we can all move forward,” he said.
Labuschagne, speaking at the launch of a community cricket initiative in Brisbane, remained upbeat that Australia’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in Hobart will proceed as planned. It shapes as Australia’s first Test since losing to India in January.
“We all want more Test cricket,” he said. “That’s not always possible.”
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