Marnus Labuschagne got to find a way to turn it around: Ricky Ponting

Star Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne had a tough time batting in Test cricket as of late. In the first Test against India in Perth, the 30-year-old made two and three runs respectively in two innings as the hosts ended up suffering an embarrassing 295-run defeat. There have been plenty of discussions regarding Labuschagne’s form ahead of the Adelaide Test as former cricketer Mitchell Johnson even advised the team management to drop him from the playing XI.

Former captain Ricky Ponting however didn’t echo the same sentiment and reiterated the need to back ‘champion’ players. He highlighted that Labuschagne needs to find a way to turn things around and analysed both his innings of Perth. The cricketer was Australia’s number-one ranked Test batter but since the Pakistan series in January, he has averaged only 13.66, which is heavily concerning.

Also Read - Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne for Adelaide Test versus India: Mitchell Johnson

“I think you have to show faith in champion players. A lot of the guys that we're talking about in this team have been champion players. Maybe albeit not for a little while. I think I read somewhere the other day that Marnus is averaging 13 since January (after the Pakistan series) in Tests. So he's really got to find a way to turn it around. He was the one that looked most tentative to me out of all the batsmen in Perth,” Ponting said in the latest ICC review.

“Yes, it was high-quality bowling. Yes, it was a difficult wicket to bat on. But when you're facing the best bowlers as a batsman, you have to take more risks. I think that's going to be the great challenge for Marnus and co. this week. It’s probably just letting go a little bit. Think about scoring runs first and not think about getting out first. There’s only one way to change it, and that is to be positive and show great intent,” the 49-year-old added.

Australia are trailing 1-0 in the five-match series and the Pat Cummins-led side needs to get back to winning ways soon as their road to the World Test Championship final heavily depends on the ongoing India series.