Ind vs Aus 2nd Test: ‘Exclude Labuschagne from the playing XI…’ the veteran said before the second test

New Delhi. Former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes that Australia, who is struggling with poor form, should drop Marnus Labuschagne from the playing XI of the day-night Adelaide Test against India starting on 6 December. In the first Test match played in Perth, Labuschagne scored only 2 runs on 52 balls in the first innings and 3 runs on 5 balls in the second innings. Australia had to face a crushing defeat in this match by 295 runs.

Johnson wrote in his/her column, “Marnus Labuschagne has been struggling to score runs for a long time and someone else should be given a chance in his/her place in the second Test match in Adelaide. “This does not mean that anyone is being made a scapegoat for the defeat in the first Test match.”

Johnson further said, “By leaving him/her out of the Test team, he/she will get a chance to play some Sheffield Shield matches and club cricket and there will be no pressure on him/her to play for the country. I think Labuschagne will benefit from playing domestic cricket instead of playing against Jasprit Bumrah and his/her fellow bowlers.”

Ishan Kishan hit 77 in 23 balls, Rajat Patidar’s fifty, Rinku Singh also hit sixes.

Johnson said, “In the last 10 Test innings he/she has reached double figures only once. he/she may be struggling to stay at the crease, but it is not working right now. “Leaving out Labuschagne will not mean that his/her future in Test cricket is hanging in the balance or that he/she is not the right player to bat at number three.”

This former fast bowler also said that the form of senior batsman Steve Smith is also a matter of concern. he/she said, “Steve Smith’s form is a matter of serious concern. It seems that they have lost the shine that we are used to. he/she is not able to play the balls coming on his/her pads, whereas in the past he/she used to score runs easily on such balls.

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