Labuschagne gets Cummins’ backing after horror Perth test sees his spot in the side come under immense scrutiny.
Labuschagne has received the support of his captain after a wretched Perth test with the bat has seen his place come under threat.
The Queenslander was all at sea throughout the course of this test with the bat. Pitiful returns of 2 and 3 have now stretched his barren run even more. It has come to the point where a blip has now turned into a full-blown batting crisis.
His last 10 test innings have seen him average an abysmal 13.66 with a top score of 90. In Perth, his two innings were especially terrifying. When he nicked Jasprit Bumrah to second slip in the first, he was dropped second ball. He then shut up shop and faced 51 balls for only two runs before being nailed leg before wicket by Mohammed Siraj on his 52nd. He has struggled to edge deliveries in his last Test matches. This including the recent ODI series against Pakistan.
He attempted to shoulder arms to an inswinger who was blasting off stump late in the day. But Bumrah trapped him in the second innings.
“Marn along with quite a few guys in the team didn’t have the week we would have wanted,” Cummins said after the loss inside four days. “It’s no secret how hard the batters, particularly Marn works in the nets. He’s always trying to find those small marginal gains. This week will be a lot of conversation with the coaches around his approach and what he could be doing differently.
“We know he’s a class player. Him at his best is one of the scariest propositions for opposition bowlers to bowl at. We’ll get to Adelaide a little bit earlier and maybe do an extra day or two prep leading into that second Test. He’s done it before over there, he’s got a very good pink-ball record. So I always think looking back at past successes when you were at your best is always a pretty good way to get yourself back on track.
“This is a sample size of one. Four or five days ago we thought this was our best XI. So I dare say there won’t be many changes going into Adelaide, but I’m not a selector. I’m sure they’ll get together after the game. We’ve got a bit of work to do over the next 10 days.”