The current World Test Champions, Australia, experienced a harsh defeat by the commanding margin of 295 runs in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, which marked a dramatic start to the series. Captain Pat Cummins’ side was left reeling as India outplayed Australia at their own game. The win was significant for India as they managed to deliver the first major blow in this high-stakes series. This match not only demonstrated India’s strength but also put pressure on Australia’s squad, leading to calls for changes ahead of the next encounter.
Australia’s Mitchell Johnson calls for champion player’s omission
Amidst the fallout from the Perth loss, former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson has advocated for a shift in Australia’s lineup. Johnson has called for Marnus Labuschagne to be dropped for the second Test in Adelaide, citing the batter’s prolonged struggle with the bat. Labuschagne’s poor run has been highlighted, with scores of just 2 and 3 in the Perth Test and an underwhelming average of 23.57 in Tests since the start of last summer.
In his column for The Nightly, Johnson expressed, “Labuschagne – after a lengthy poor run with the bat – should be replaced for the second Test in Adelaide,”
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He further elaborated that it would be beneficial for Labuschagne to step away from the pressures of international cricket and play some domestic cricket, such as Sheffield Shield or club cricket, to regain form and confidence. Johnson argued that this break would be more constructive than continuing to struggle against a formidable Indian attack led by bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.
“I honestly believe the best thing for Labuschagne at this stage would be to be left out. It would give him a chance to play some Sheffield Shield and club cricket away from the pressure of playing for your country and I feel he would benefit from that more than going out there trying to survive against Jasprit Bumrah and co,” the 43-year-old added.
Labuschagne’s recent struggles have come under the microscope following Australia’s defeat. His past 10 Test innings have yielded an average of just 13.66, with only one score exceeding 10 runs. This alarming form has led to intense scrutiny and calls for a change Johnson further emphasized that cricketers often face a period where they must be dropped and that the measure of a player’s resilience is shown in how they respond to such challenges.
“Some will say, hold up a minute, it’s just the first Test of a long summer. But this has been going on for a while. In his past 10 Test innings, he’s passed 10 just once. Cricketers get dropped at some point of their careers and it’s about how you bounce back from that,” Johnson concluded.
Pink-ball Test in Adelaide against India
The focus now shifts to Adelaide, where India and Australia are set to face off in the only pink-ball Test of the series. Scheduled to begin on December 6, 2024, at the Adelaide Oval, the match will last until December 10, barring any unexpected early conclusion, similar to what occurred in Perth. The Adelaide Test is expected to offer a unique challenge with the pink ball, which has its own set of conditions and may impact team strategies and selections. Australia’s lineup, including decisions regarding Labuschagne, will be closely scrutinized as they seek to bounce back from their opening defeat and take advantage of the different conditions posed by the day-night format.
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