Australia finds themselves under the heat after conceding a 0-1 lead to India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at home. Pat Cummins and the Australian team are facing heavy criticism across the quarters after they suffered an embarrassing 295-run defeat in the Perth Test against India.
Among the glaring concerns is Steve Smith’s alarming dip in form. The Australian batting icon was once hailed as a master of turning deliveries, but now he looks a shadow of his former self, struggling to find his trademark sharpness.
Mitchell Johnson urges Australia to drop Marnus Labuschagne after Perth Test debacle
Additionally, Marnus Labuschagne is also becoming a headache for the hosts in the ongoing five-match Test series against India at home. Now, ahead of the second Test in Adelaide, former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has sparked a debate by urging the national selectors and team management to drop Marnus Labuschagne.
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Labuschagne’s struggles have been evident, with dismal scores of 2 and 3 in the Perth Test and an alarming average of just 23.57 in Test cricket since last summer. Mitchell Johnson believes that dropping Labuschagne would allow the talented batter to rediscover his form in the Sheffield Shield and club cricket.
With India’s formidable bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah set to dominate in Australia, the former pacer feels Labuschagne should be just dropped from the team for the sake of the team in the ongoing five-match Test series.
Labuschagne should be replaced for the Adelaide Test: Johnson
Mitchell Johnson wrote in his column for The Nightly: “Labuschagne—after a lengthy poor run with the bat—should be replaced for the second Test in Adelaide. I honestly believe the best thing for Labuschagne at this stage would be to be left out. It would give him a chance to play some Sheffield Shield and club cricket away from the pressure of playing for your country, and I feel he would benefit from that more than going out there trying to survive against Jasprit Bumrah and co.
Some will say, Hold up a minute; it’s just the first Test of a long summer. But this has been going on for a while. In his past 10 Test innings, he’s passed 10 just once. Cricketers get dropped at some point in their careers, and it’s about how you bounce back from that.”
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However, Johnson said that Labuschagne will get another opportunity in the Adelaide Test against India, where the pink ball will swing and seam around, especially when it’s new, and he could do justice to his selection. However, he doesn’t think the doors would be shown to struggling Smith as well.
Mitchell Johnson calls for a fresh player to put pressure on India
Josh Inglis and Beau Webster are in sublime form in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, and they have already been named in Australia’s Test squad. So, either of them can get the nod for the Day-Night Test, but the former pacer believes that Nathan McSweeney deserves his chance against India.
Johnson signed off by saying, “Coming up against India, who now have their tails up, will be tough for anyone, but sometimes having fresh players in the team can bring the boys together in an energetic way. A new batsman could also come in clear-minded without having gone through a defeat like we just saw and play their natural game with less pressure.”
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