Australia vs India: Michael Hussey backs struggling Marnus Labuschagne | Cricket News

Former Australia batter Michael Hussey has backed struggling Marnus Labuschagne ahead of the second Test against India, to be played in Adelaide from December 6.
Labuschange managed only 2 and 3 in the Perth Test and the experts has called to drop the Australia’s No 3 from the Australian Test team.
However, Hussey sees no technical problem with Marnus Labuschagne’s batting but his mindset that’s getting him in trouble.
“I actually went back and had a look at some of his highlights of some of his great innings from a few years back,” Hussey told SEN Sportsday.
“It was just to see if I could see anything different than what we’ve been seeing in the last week or so.
Mohammed Siraj reclaimed his rhythm after dismissing Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings of the Perth Test. (AP)
“From a technical perspective, there’s actually not a lot of difference from when he was playing really well in scoring a lot of runs compared to the last Test match against India.
“The biggest difference I’ve noticed is just his intent to score. He’s probably looking at it thinking, ‘I’m a senior player now, I’ve got to take responsibility, I’ve got to bat time, be there for the team, soak up the pressure and all of that’.
“That gets you into a tentative defensive frame of mind – of batting time, being there and being patient.
“Whereas when I watched some of those highlights from a few years back, he was just confident and decisive in everything he did, even in defence and when he was letting the ball go he was getting into really strong positions.”
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne celebrates making 100 runs against England during the second day of their Ashes cricket test match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/James Els)
Hussey is backing Labuschagne to turn things around.
“I feel as though it’s something that can be fixed really quickly just with a mindset shift,” Hussey said.
“If he can just change that mindset of just looking to occupy the crease … into, ‘Whatever I do, I’m going to do it confidently, decisively and be a little bit more positive with an intent to score’.
“I feel like he can turn it around really quickly.”