Marnus Labuschagne said he holds himself to a “higher standard” after his struggles in the opening Ashes Test and is looking to rediscover top form in time for the second match at Lord’s.
Labuschagne fell for a golden duck in the first innings and scored 13 runs in the second, losing his place at the top of the world Test rankings to England’s Joe Root.
Australia won the match by two wickets after a gripping five-day battle at Edgbaston.
“They were very uncharacteristic dismissals to how I’ve usually played,” Labuschagne said. “That’s why I was pretty frustrated with myself to get out that way and asked myself the question, ‘Why did I play at those deliveries?’.
“I’ve come up with my own summation of what that is. Now it’s (about) if there’s anything I can do tactically or technically to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“It’s a rarity that I’d play at those balls, so it’s not something I’m going to overthink, but I hold myself to a much higher standard than those dismissals.”
In the opening Ashes Test, Labuschagne was dismissed by Stuart Broad in both the innings. Broad had said before the series that he’s been perfecting an outswinger specifically to find the outside edges of Labuschagne and Steve Smith’s bats.
Labuschagne admits that Broad has had the upper hand.
“He’s 2 and 0 now, so he’s done his homework,” Labuschagne said of Broad’s double strike against him at Edgbaston.
“That first (and only) ball I got in the first innings was a very nice ball. I haven’t faced Stuart Broad where he’s really been able to swing it away. He usually angles in, and that one definitely swung.
“First ball, most of the time you just play and miss at that then you go ‘OK’, you can make the adjustments out there.
“I said this about (India spinner) Ravi Ashwin, guys who take the time to do the homework, understand the game, and work out how they’re going to get certain guys out, I’ve got so much respect for them.”
But Labuschagne is game for challenges. He is spending extra time at the nets to plug the holes.
“It’s something I’ve done my whole career, where I always think about my game,” Labuschagne said. “I’ve tried to make my game as adaptable as possible, so I don’t have one way of batting. Some people play their whole career and bat one certain way.
“Overall, it’s a very good method (but) my best method is to use my knowledge of the game, understand my game, understand the way my body moves and the way I can score and try to use that to the best of my advantage.”
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Labuschagne to return to his best if he has “trust” in himself.
Does he? Lord’s will tell us.
Written with inputs from Reuters
