More runs and less bowling is what captain Cummins wants from Marnus on the eve of the second test at Adelaide.
More runs is what the expectations are from Pat Cummins from his number 3 batter Marnsu Labuschagne ahead of tomorrow’s second test.
As Australia’s No. 3 looks for a comeback, Cummins anticipates seeing a more active Marnus Labuschagne at the crease in Adelaide. However, despite doubts about how many overs Mitchell Marsh has left in him, it seems unlikely that Labuschagne will be employed much as a medium-pace bowler.
After making 2 off 52 balls in his first innings in Perth, Labuschagne has been under intense scrutiny. In the second innings, he was lbw for 3 after shouldering arms to Jasprit Bumrah. But according to research, Labuschagne was right to assume that Bumrah’s delivery would have missed the stumps because it was a vicious one that skidded through low.
He has scored 90 of the 123 runs he has scored in his last ten Test matches from a single innings in Christchurch, although his form has been problematic for some time. His strokeplay has shown a discernible urgency during his net sessions in Adelaide, and there are signs that he is trying to find methods to rotate the attack. Labuschagne has three hundreds and an average of 71.75 at Adelaide Oval, which is a remarkable record.
“He’s training well like he always does, hitting millions of balls,” Cummins said. “It’s pretty impossible to kind of dismiss or ignore some of the commentary about perhaps being a little bit more proactive, so I think you’ve seen that side of it in the nets. The challenge is always going out there and making sure you have that mindset. But he’s been great like he always is. Always working on things, trying to plan how he’s going to score his hundred this Test.”
Even though it did not go well, Cummins was optimistic that the batters would be better for having faced the India attack, especially Jasprit Bumrah, even if he acknowledged that Australia was not up to par in Perth.
“I hope there’s some lessons learnt,” he said. “The good thing is, batting and bowling we’ve now had a look at them, they’ve had a look at us as well, but you get a look at some of the bowling plans that you want to implement. The same with the batters, they know how they are going to be attacked first up. I’m sure – well, I really hope – everyone’s kind of learnt a bit and come back here slightly better prepared having had a look at what they are going to throw at us.”
Labuschagne was a bouncer bowler in Perth before switching back to legspin late in India’s second innings. Cummins said that if Marsh’s output was less, the four primary bowlers would probably absorb any additional overs needed in this encounter.
“I’d say more likely turn to the fast bowlers a bit more,” Cummins said. “In Perth, Joshy was getting a little bit sore as well there towards the end, so there’s a bit of preservation there. Whereas this Test everyone’s fit and firing so if that remains the case as a general rule you try and rely on your four main guys.”