According to Australian media, Labuschagne’s poor form may cause him to miss the forthcoming Ashes series.
Smith is optimistic that Labuschagne will get back to his peak and make a big impact for the squad, though.
Steve Smith Backs Marnus Labuschagne to Bounce Back
In a recent interview with SEN Radio, former Australian captain Steve Smith expressed strong support for teammate Marnus Labuschagne, backing him to rediscover his best form soon.
“At his best, he’s as good as anyone in the world and I’ve no doubt he’ll get back there,” Smith remarked confidently.
Despite Labuschagne being left out of the last Test match, Smith pointed out that the batter is still in a positive headspace.
“I thought he batted really well in the World Test Championship Final without going on to make a big score,” Smith added, noting Labuschagne’s composure even in challenging situations.
Praise for Labuschagne’s Technique
Smith also highlighted a key aspect of Labuschagne’s batting technique, particularly his skill in playing through mid-wicket off the off-stump line.
“When he’s doing that from an off-stump line, I feel like that’s when he’s in a good place,” Smith explained.
He emphasized that this stroke is a reflection of Labuschagne’s balance, timing, and mental space, all aligning when he’s in form.
Dip in Form: A Statistical Reality
While Smith and others continue to show faith, the numbers paint a concerning picture in the ongoing 2023–25 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Labuschagne has averaged just 27.82 from 20 matches, scoring 974 runs with only one century and eight fifties in 36 innings.
In contrast, he averaged 72.82 and 52.53 in the previous two cycles (2019–21 and 2021–23), where he crossed the 1,500-run mark in both editions.
Among all Australian batters with 500+ runs in the current cycle, Labuschagne is the only one in the top seven averaging below 34, underlining a stark drop in performance.
Selectors Still Believe in His Potential
When Labuschagne was left out of the playing XI for the first Test, Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey reaffirmed their trust in him.
“Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team,” Bailey stated, while also noting that Labuschagne is well aware that his recent performances haven’t been up to the mark.
He added, “We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover.”
Smith Urges Patience with Young Players Like Cameron Green
Smith didn’t just reserve his encouragement for Labuschagne. He also spoke about the importance of being patient with emerging talents, such as Cameron Green, who batted at No.3 in the first Test against the West Indies.
Despite scoring only 22 runs in his last four Test innings, Smith believes in Green’s potential.
“We’ve just got to be patient with them,” Smith emphasized. “Green is a talented player with good skills, and he’ll come good.”