2 weeks Ago
Marnus Labuschagne (AP photo) NEW DELHI: Former Australian quick Mitchell Johnson feels out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne should be included in the playing XI for the second day-night Test against India in Adelaide, starting from December 6. Labuschagne has been going through a rough patch in the longest format in 2024 and has 8 single -digit scores in the last 6 Tests. In the first Test against India in Perth, Labuschagne scored 2 (52 balls) and 3 (5 balls) respectively across two innings as Australia went on to lost the match by 295 runs.
"Marnus Labuschagne - after a lengthy poor run with the bat - should be replaced for the second Test in Adelaide. And that's not for the sake of having someone pay the price for the thrashing in Perth," Johnson wrote in 'Nightly.' Johnson believes a return to domestic cricket would be beneficial for Labuschagne to regain his form.
The former pacer feels that playing Sheffield Shield and club cricket will allow Labuschagne play without the pressure of international cricket. "It (dropping) would give him a chance to play some Sheffield Shield and club cricket away from the pressure of playing for your country. I feel he would benefit from that more than going out there trying to survive against Jasprit Bumrah and co.
," he added. Johnson clarified that dropping Labuschagne shouldn't be interpreted as the end of his international career. He emphasized that this is not a permanent decision and doesn't diminish Labuschagne’s potential.
Labuschagne has an impressive Test record, having scored 4119 runs at an average of 48 in 51 Tests. "In his past 10 Test innings, he's passed 10 just once. He's trying to fight through it in the middle but it's not currently working.
Dropping Labuschagne, 30, would not mean he doesn't still have a long future in the Test team or that he's the wrong player to bat at three. "For the time being in this form slump though, we need him to be better – which means making big runs, not bowling bouncers and risking the potential of injury when that's the job of the bowlers in the team," he added. Johnson, a former left-arm pacer with 313 Test wickets and 2065 runs in 73 Tests, also expressed concerns about Steve Smith 's form.
He observed that Smith appeared to be lacking his usual sharpness and was missing balls he would typically score runs off. "Steve Smith's form is a serious concern. He looks like he has lost his sharpness we are used to, missing balls on his pads that in the past were easy runs," he added.
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