Cricket: Do Australia stick with Marnus Labuschagne?

Australia are facing a dilemma over whether or not to keep Marnus Labuschagne in the Test side during the series with India.

The Aussies find themselves 1-0 down in the series after losing the opening Test in Perth, where the whole batting order failed to perform.

However, it is the form of Labuschagne that is causing the most debate and there are calls for the selectors to switch things up ahead of the second Test, in which Australia are 1.83 to win and 2.37 to lose.

There are two sides to the debate, with some believing he deserves at least one more chance.

With the second Test against India starting on Friday, let’s take a look at whether Labuschagne deserves to keep his place in the side.

Bang out of form

If the decision has to be made just on form alone then Labuschagne should probably be left out of the side for the second Test.

The Queenslander has averaged just 13.66 over his last 10 innings, making one big total of 90 runs during that time.

His next highest score is 10, and after that he has failed to hit double figures.

Labuschagne would have been hoping to start the summer of Test cricket with some morale-boosting runs.

However in the first innings he scored just two runs off 52 deliveries, and was out for three runs in the second.

Being dropped could be what he needs

There is the belief that taking Labuschagne out of the side will be the best thing for him and his future in Test cricket.

It would allow him to return to Sheffield Shield cricket to work on his issues and play his way back into form before returning to the Test arena.

Trying to rediscover his form against a fierce India bowling attack might not be the best idea. Indeed things could go from bad to worse.

Labuschagne is just 30 and has plenty of good years ahead of him and being dropped from the Test side now could be the making of him.

He would not be the first top Australian batsman to be dropped from the side either.

Who replaces him?

If Labuschagne is taken out of the side, then the question has to be asked, who replaces him at No.3 in the batting order?

The whole of the Australian side struggled with the bat against India, with only Travis Head scoring 50 runs.

There is the option of bringing talented teenager Sam Konstas into the side after his century for the Prime Minister’s XI.

That would allow Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first Test, to switch to his usual position at No.3.

He is a good all-rounder

Labuschagne may be out of form with the bat, but the rest of his game is up to speed.

He is looking good in the field and also offers Australia another bowling option if they need to take a wicket.

Labuschagne is fit and is showing no signs of letting his intensity levels drop, all valid reasons to give him another crack in Adelaide.

Consistency could be key

Australia may be pondering changes, but there is a good chance they will stick with the same side in Adelaide, in the hope they will come good.

Chopping and changing so early in the series, with just one Test played, could do more harm than good, causing even more chaos.

Sticking with the same players could be the way forward for now, and that means Labuschagne will keep his place.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.