“The biggest difference I’ve noticed is just his intent to score”, Michael Hussey reveals how Marnus Labuschagne can finally score runs in the BGT 2024/25
There have been calls for him to be dropped but former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has backed Labuschagne to start scoring runs soon.
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Michael Hussey, Marnus Labuschagne (Via X)
The Australian Cricket Team suffered a devastating loss in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025 by 295 runs at the Optus Stadium Perth. The batting line-up was dismissed for 104 runs in the first innings and for 238 runs in the second innings. Marnus Labuschagne was one of the batters who failed with the bat, as he scored two runs from 52 balls in the first innings and three from five deliveries in the second innings.
He has been out of form for quite some time and looked dismal in both innings of the Test match. There have been calls for him to be dropped in the second Test, but former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has backed Labuschagne to start scoring runs soon.
Hussey saw some highlights of Labuschagne’s batting technique when he was scoring runs and compared it to his current technique and found no difference. The main point of difference has been the Aussie batter’s intent to score runs. Hussey feels that Marnus is probably thinking of soaking up the pressure and batting for a longer time.
From a technical perspective, there’s actually not a lot of difference from when he was playing really well in scoring a lot of runs compared to the last Test match against India. The biggest difference I’ve noticed is just his intent to score. He’s probably looking at it thinking, ‘I’m a senior player now, I’ve got to take responsibility, I’ve got to bat time, be there for the team, soak up the pressure and all of that.
Michael Hussey Hussey told SEN Sportsday.
He played 52 balls in the first innings but never looked set. Finally, he was trapped in front of the wicket by Mohammed Siraj. In the second innings, he shouldered arms to an incoming delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and was trapped in front of the stumps yet again. There is huge pressure on him to score runs in the Adelaide Test.
Michael Hussey feels that Marnus Labuschagne needs to bat positively to score runs
Hussey feels that Marnus needs to be confident and bat positively in order to score runs in the upcoming Tests. He must just change the mindset of staying in the crease for the sake of staying and instead show intent of keeping the scoreboard ticking. Australia needs runs from their number three if they need to make a comeback in the series.
If he can just change that mindset of just looking to occupy the crease … into, ‘Whatever I do, I’m going to do it confidently, decisively and be a little bit more positive with an intent to score.
Michael Hussey Hussey told SEN Sportsday.
The second Test match will be a Day/Night Test match with the Pink Ball at the Adelaide Oval starting on December 6. The Indian team will see the comeback of their captain, Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test due to the birth of his baby boy. The team will play a two-day Pink Ball practice game against Prime Minister’s XI on November 30 and December 1.
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Rohit Sarkar
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