Former Australian Wk-batter Adam Gilchrist has considered Marnus Labuschagne’s recent dip in form, saying it is caused due to challenging conditions and strong opposition rather than technical flaws.
Labuschagne has struggled with his batting form and has managed to 2 and 3 runs during the first match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy where the hosts secured a 295-run defeat at Perth.
Gilchrist emphasised that Labuschagne remains a ‘Class Act’ despite his current struggles.
“I’m sure the people around him are already doing this but he needs to be reminded that he is a class act,” Gilchrist said.
“He’s got a game that has been able to tolerate and withstand everything that the cricketing world has presented, and he’s dominated for a number of years.”
Labuschagne’s long form record has taken a dip since December 2022 when he was the No.1 men’s test batter in the World with an average of 60.82.
The 30 year old is positioned equal 14th and averages 48.45 after 51 tests. Labuschagne has brought up just one century from his past 41 test innings.
Backing his defensive game, Gilchrist thinks the right hander is overthinking his plays at the ball.
“Most players that have played long enough will have been in this situation at some point in time and it’s about not letting any self-doubt creep in and understanding you don’t lose that skill — you don’t lose that edge — [and] certainly not in a short space of time,” he said.
Speaking from personal experience, Gilchrist’s advice to Labuschagne was simple.
“Trust your training, get out there, see the ball and play it,” he said. Jasprit Bumrah ripped the Australia batting line up in Perth, Gilchrist said the hosts needed to go defensive while facing India.
“Marnus had the onus to do that and tried at good effect to nullify 50-odd deliveries. So, if you face an average of 50 deliveries every Test innings, you’re probably going to be on the right side of the ledger more than you’re on the wrong side of it,” he said.
“He just couldn’t find a way to score and maybe that’s what [the Australians] as a collective will look to try and do. It will bring with it risk, for sure, but it’s [a] risk for reward.”
If the Australian camp feels that they are vulnerable with the bat, Gilchrist tipped Sean Abbott to come into the side over Scott Boland as cover for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
“They did send out the SOS to him,” Gilchrist said. After the first test, the hosts has dropped to the second position and further slipped down to third position in the WTC points table while India retianed their top position.
Australia is aiming to bounce back in the second test against India starting on December 06 at Adelaide Oval.
