Andrew McDonald on Marnus Labuschagne. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Australia got off to a horrid start in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Taking on the Indian team in the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, faced a hefty loss against the visitors. Bundling India out for 150 runs in the first innings, Australia was limited to 104 runs in their first innings.
Furthermore, after India’s excellent performance in the second innings, Australia got themselves a target of 534 runs in the second innings, and in response, the side only managed to score 238, as India won the first Test by a whopping 295 runs.
Across the first Test, there were many performances that were questioned; one of the biggest questions was raised on the star batter Marnus Labuschagne’s performance. The star Australia batter has only scored one century in his last 41 innings, averaging just 30 runs in that time. Talking about his performance, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald took centre stage and expressed his confidence in Labuschange.
“When we’ve seen him at his best, he’s shown great intent at the crease. That’s an ongoing discussion and that ebbs and flows in players’ careers. At the moment he’s in one of those patches and no doubt he’ll be getting critiqued externally,” McDonald was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Internally we’re really confident that, at his best, he’s the player that we need. We’re really confident he can turn that around,” he added.
To me, it’s about how you’re going to score runs off Jasprit: McDonald
Furthermore, Andrew McDonald acknowledged how big of a challenge playing against Jasprit Bumrah has been for the Australian side. It is worth noting that Bumrah won the Player of the Match award in Perth for his 8-72 figures across the two innings.
“To me, it’s about how you’re going to score runs off Jasprit, It’s one thing sitting there going, ‘How am I going to defend the good balls?’ But the art of putting pressure back on him and knowing where you’re going to score off him,” McDonald said.