Marnus Labuschagne, once the world’s No. 1 ranked Test batter, is facing mounting scrutiny after a poor performance in the first Test against India. The Australian top-order stalwart, who has been crucial for his team, has seen his Test average drop notably since his twin half-centuries against Pakistan in January. In the recent Perth Test, he struggled with scores of just 2 and 3 in his two innings.
Ricky Ponting, speaking on The ICC Review, highlighted Labuschagne’s ongoing difficulties and stressed the importance of him finding a way to regain his form.
“He really has to find a way to turn it around,” Ponting said, acknowledging Labuschagne’s struggles. “He looked the most tentative out of all the batters in Perth. Yes, it was high-quality bowling on a challenging wicket, but he needs to find a way to come through it.”
Ponting also reflected on Labuschagne’s vital role in Australia’s World Test Championship victory at The Oval last year, but underscored the mental and technical hurdles the batter is currently facing. With India’s bowlers proving tough to handle, Ponting emphasized that Labuschagne must adopt a more aggressive approach in order to counter world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.
“You have to take risks and put pressure back on those bowlers,” Ponting advised. “Bumrah and others won’t give you easy scoring opportunities. When they do, you’ve got to be ready to capitalize and turn the momentum.”
As Australia gears up for the second Test in Adelaide, Labuschagne will be under the microscope to prove he can bounce back and contribute to his team’s efforts in the ongoing series. Ponting’s comments underline the need for Australian batters to balance mental resilience with proactive aggression to tackle India’s formidable bowling attack.
The second Test is set to take place in Adelaide from December 6-10, featuring a day-night format under lights. The series will then move to Brisbane for the third Test from December 14-18, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne from December 26-30. The series will conclude with the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, running from January 3-7.