'He’s so intense; he eats, sleeps, and drinks cricket' - Mark Waugh advises time off for struggling Labuschagne

Former Australian batting great Mark Waugh has voiced concerns for struggling Marnus Labuschagne, urging the talented batter to take a step back from the game during off-time to avoid suffocation. Waugh is concerned that Labuschagne's intense obsession with the game could be suffocating him during this difficult period.

Since bursting onto the international scene in 2019, Labuschagne showcased exceptional batting display, becoming a cornerstone of the Australian Test team. However, his recent struggles have been evident, with only one century and six half-centuries in his last 17 Tests. His recent form has been even worse, managing only 22 runs at an average of 4.40 in his last three Tests. The 29-year-old's alarming dip in form has raised concerns among cricketing circles, with his recent string of low scores intensifying the scrutiny.

Also read: Andrew McDonald addresses Marnus Labuschagne's indifferent form

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Waugh cited an incident where the batter was spotted shadow-batting even in a department store.

"He was in there with his tracksuit on, he had a backpack on and he had his bat and he
was shadow batting in the department store. So he needs to break free of that," said Waugh. "The worrying sign for me about Marnus is he’s so intense. He’s 24 hours a day, eats, sleeps, and drinks cricket. And I wonder when you get in a bit of a rut, is that going to suffocate you?"

Despite Labuschagne's lack of runs, Australia has continued their dominance, winning the recent World Test Championship final and five of their last six Tests this summer. Waugh believes a bit of luck could help turn things around for the talented batter.

"If he can just forget about batting 24 hours a day and have a bit of luck. The first half of his career he had a bit of luck, [he] got dropped a few times. The next part of his career he’s had no luck, he’s got caught down the leg side, he’s making one mistake and he’s getting out. So, it might be as simple as having a bit of luck in the next dig and he’ll be fine," the former cricketer said.

Also read: Pat Cummins defends Marnus Labuschagne following lackluster performances

Despite his recent woes, Waugh backed selectors to keep faith in Labuschagne given his excellent overall Test record of over 4,000 runs at 49.60. "I think the selectors will show faith in Marnus. He’s got a few credits in the bank, let’s be fair. He’s a fantastic player. He’s going through a rut," concluded Waugh

The 29-year-old will play his 50th Test in the upcoming second match against New Zealand in Christchurch, with Australia leading 1-0 after a 172-run win in the first Test. Waugh's advice for a mental break could be key for Labuschagne to rediscover his batting form.