Cummins backs Labuschagne to bounce back in Adelaide

Test skipper Pat Cummins is backing Marnus Labuschagne to bounce out of his batting funk as Australia look set to give their ageing squad a chance to atone from their Perth horror show. Labuschagne's struggles in Australia's 295-run loss to India at Optus Stadium was one of the major talking points of the Border-Gavaskar series opener. The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series and raised huge question marks about Australia's frail batting line-up. Nathan McSweeney made 10 and 0 in his Test debut, fellow opener Usman Khawaja (eight and four) also struggled, while Steve Smith (0 and 17) was another who failed to fire. But it was Labuschagne who attracted the heaviest criticism. He was all at sea in scoring just two off 52 balls in Australia's first innings total of 104. And the 30-year-old was out for three in the second innings when he shouldered arms to a wildly swinging Jasprit Bumrah delivery and was dismissed lbw. Labuschagne burned a review in each of his dismissals, and calls have emerged for his sacking ahead of the second Test in Adelaide from December 6. The right-hander averaged 64.9 in the 2019 calendar year, 67.1 in 2020, 65.8 in 2021 and 56.3 in 2022. But that dropped to 34.9 last year, and sits at a woeful 24.5 in 2024. "Marnus, along with quite a few guys in the team, didn't have the week that we would have wanted," Cummins conceded. "It's no secret how hard the batters, particularly Marnus, works in the nets, and he's always trying to find those small marginal gains. "So this week there will be a lot of conversation with the coaches around maybe 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." Labuschagne averages 63.85 through his eight day-night Tests. Cummins is confident the bright lights of Adelaide will help Labuschagne bounce back. "He's got a very good pink ball record," Cummins said. "So I always think it's looking back at past successes when you were at your best is always a pretty good way to get yourself back on track." Cummins hinted that Australia was likely to retain the same XI for Adelaide, although allrounder Mitch Marsh will be monitored after pulling up sore from the series opener. Marsh bowled 17 overs across India's two innings, and made 47 with the bat on Monday. Josh Inglis was in the extended squad for the first Test as a reserve batter and looms as an option if Australia want to make any changes. "Four or five days ago we thought this was our best 11, so I dare say nothing - there won't be many changes going into Adelaide," Cummins said. "But I'm not a selector."