Australian coach Andrew McDonald has vowed the nation will see a different version of Marnus Labuschagne when his chance to bat again comes in Perth, with the host nation in a massive hole in the first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
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After being battered, bruised and bullied by the Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian attack of Friday, the Australian No.3 was struck again on the body when facing in the nets on Saturday morning prior to what proved another testing day for the hosts in Perth.
The 30-year-old adopted an ultra-defensive mindset against India in the first innings, managing just two runs from 52 balls before being trapped LBW by Mohammed Siraj, and McDonald conceded Labuschagne was taught a lesson at the crease.
Labuschagne has notched only one score of more than 10 — a 90 against New Zealand in the opening innings against New Zealand in Christchurch in March — in his past five Tests among an Australian top order struggling to find form.
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“He’s working on his game as hard as ever (but) there’s no doubt he can learn some lessons from the first innings,” McDonald
said.
“He was in the nets this morning working through what his method is going to be in the second innings. And clearly, your mindset changes based upon the conditions as well.
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“So the game plan from the first innings is going to look different from the second innings. Test cricket is a unique game. You get two bites at it. So we look forward to that opportunity with the bat when it does come.”
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After narrowly avoiding the ignominy of being bowled out for a record low tally against India on home soil when scoring 104, which left Australia 46 runs in arrears after the first innings, the nation’s highly-vaunted attack was unable to make inroads on Saturday.
India’s opening combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is unbeaten on 90, and KL Rahul, who is 62 not out, defied the Australians for the final two sessions to reach 0-172 at stumps, given the tourists a lead of 218.
The predicted temperature in Perth on Sunday is 33, which could prove taxing for the Australian bowlers should the Indian top-order settle. McDonald, though, is not overly concerned with the load on the attack in the infancy of the series.
“(There are) no real concerns. I think the shortened first innings alleviates a lot of that. It’ll be management into that second new ball (and) making sure that we’ve got the energy for that,” he said.
“That’s our opportunity, our entry point into the game. We’ve got a little bit of work to do before then (but) if we can pick up a few into that second new ball, that gives us the opportunity. That’s where our minds at this stage.”
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Despite a demoralising four sessions following the promising start on Friday, McDonald said the morale in the Australian dressing room was sound and he is hopeful the attack will be able to make inroads when it takes the new ball late in Saturday’s morning session.
“The morale is always good. It’s a pretty level team, whether it’s a good day or a bad day,” he said.
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“We’ve got some problems to solve ahead of us. There’s no doubt we’re clearly well behind the game at this stage. India have got the driver’s seat at the moment, but that’s not to say that tomorrow can’t change very quickly.
“Test cricket ebbs and flows. We’ve all been a part of a game when you’ve been well ahead of the game and it can twist and turn. So we’ll get to work on what it looks like for us tomorrow morning.”
