Adam Gilchrist backs Labuschagne as a “Class Act” and urges Australian batters to occupy the crease against India in Adelaide

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has advised Australia’s batters to focus on spending more time at the crease if they hope to counter India’s bowling attack in the upcoming pink-ball Test in Adelaide. The match, the second of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, begins on December 6, with the visitors holding a psychological advantage after a commanding 295-run victory in Perth.

Gilchrist emphasized the importance of patience, pointing out that Australia’s batters need to “weather the storm” to improve their chances against India’s formidable bowling lineup, led by Jasprit Bumrah. In Perth, Bumrah was instrumental in dismantling the Aussie lineup, taking eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

Using Marnus Labuschagne’s 52-ball stay for two runs in the first Test as an example, Gilchrist highlighted the value of occupying the crease. “Marnus tried to nullify 50-odd deliveries, and if you can average facing that many balls every innings, you’re likely to find yourself on the right side of the ledger more often,” Gilchrist said, as quoted by Nine’s Wide World of Sports. He added, “It’s a risk-for-reward approach, but it’s one the Australians need to embrace collectively.”

The pink-ball Test in Adelaide presents a pivotal moment for both sides. While India looks to maintain their momentum, Australia will aim to bounce back and avoid falling further behind in the series. However, India will be wary of their own history at Adelaide, where they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test total of 36 runs during the 2020 pink-ball Test. In that match, Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood delivered devastating spells, leaving India reeling.

With Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the second Test due to injury, Gilchrist also voiced support for Sean Abbott as a potential replacement. Abbott, who boasts a first-class batting average of 24.55 and a century to his name, could add depth to the batting lineup. “They sent out the SOS to him, and he could be a good fit if there’s a need to bolster the batting,” Gilchrist remarked.

“He needs to be reminded that he is a class act”: Adam Gilchrist on Labuschagne

Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has expressed confidence in Marnus Labuschagne despite the batter’s recent struggles, urging him to trust his abilities and stay positive. Labuschagne has faced a dip in form in recent matches, but Gilchrist believes the challenges are more about tough conditions and opposition rather than any technical shortcomings.

Speaking to Nine’s Wide World of Sports, Gilchrist said, “I’m sure the people around him are already doing this, but he needs to be reminded that he is a class act. He’s got a game that has been able to tolerate and withstand everything the cricketing world has presented, and he’s dominated for a number of years.”

Labuschagne, who scored just 2 and 3 in the first Test against India in Perth, has been struggling to replicate his stellar performances from the previous World Test Championship cycle. So far, he has scored only 658 runs in 13 Tests in the current cycle, averaging a modest 13.66 across five Tests this year, with his last significant scores being two half-centuries against Pakistan in early January.

Gilchrist suggested that Labuschagne might be overthinking his approach, leading to a more defensive style of play. “Most players that have played long enough will have been in this situation at some point in time. It’s about not letting self-doubt creep in and understanding that you don’t lose that skill or edge in a short space of time,” he explained.

Drawing from his own experience, Gilchrist offered Labuschagne simple advice: “Trust your training, get out there, see the ball and play it.”

The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a pink-ball day-night match, will take place at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. Australia, looking to recover from a 295-run defeat in the first Test, will rely on Labuschagne to rediscover his form. The series will then move to Brisbane for the third Test at The Gabba from December 14 to 18, followed by the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Also See: India vs Australia Schedule, Match Dates, Timing and Venues

Australia squad (for second Test): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal.