'Absolutely not' - Pat Cummins defends Marnus Labuschagne following lackluster performances

In the wake of Marnus Labuschagne's recent batting struggles, Australian captain Pat Cummins has come out strongly in support of the right-handed batter, dismissing any suggestions that Labuschagne's spot in the Test side is in danger.

Labuschagne, who has been an integral part of the Australian batting line-up, has faced a challenging period, managing just one century in his last 37 Test innings. The 29-year-old's recent scores of 2, 1, 5, 3, 1*, and 10 have raised questions about his form and position in the team.

Despite the concerns, the Aussie skipper dismissed worries about Labuschagne's future, asserting there's no doubt about his spot in the team. He acknowledged Labuschagne's eagerness to improve his batting, emphasizing his commitment in the nets.

“Absolutely not. He’d be the first to admit he’d like to score some more runs, and it’s not through lack of trying in the nets. Particularly in the second innings, it was just one of those ones down leg,” Cummins was saying as quoted by Fox Sports.

“We’re very clear that these six guys are the best six batters in Australia. Although at times it might not have clicked all at once, the story of our team has been someone’s been able to stand up when they need to,” Cummins added.

Also Read: I'll never criticise our batters because they've been exceptional for a number of years now: Nathan Lyon

Labuschagne's recent dismissals, caught in the slips cordon in three consecutive innings, have raised eyebrows. However, Cummins maintained faith in the batter. 

“We’re very clear that these six guys are the best six batters in Australia.”

Highlighting the team's resilience, Cummins pointed out, “Although at times it might not have clicked all at once, the story of our team has been someone’s been able to stand up when they need to. Everyone’s going well.”

It’s the captain’s dream: Cummins

As the cricketing world dissects Labuschagne's form, Cummins took a moment to laud the performance of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon played a pivotal role in Australia's recent 172-run victory against New Zealand, securing a ten-wicket match haul. Describing Lyon as the “captain's dream,” Cummins expressed his confidence in the off-spinner.

“It’s the captain’s dream,” Cummins expressed. “There’s a real sense of calm out there when you know you’ve got someone that good on a wicket that’s giving him a little bit of help. It’s fun really. You can get creative with some of the field placements, knowing he’s going to land it exactly where you want it to. I thought he was brilliant over the last couple of days, bouncing through a few different plans, but it just always felt like he was in control. We had plan B, C, D that we could go to as well, but it never really felt like we had to.”

Reflecting on the offie's future, Cummins welcomed Lyon's ambition to continue playing Test cricket until 2027.

“It’s huge, I’d love for him to keep going until 2027,” Cummins added. “The only barrier is his body. If he looks after his body and makes sure he’s right for ten Test matches a year, I would absolutely love for him to keep playing until 2027, and I don’t think there’s much getting in his way. I already told him today, the day he retires, I’m definitely giving up the captaincy, because it makes my life a hell of a lot easier.”

Also Read: Steve Smith surpasses Mark Waugh to etch his name in elite catching list in Tests