After playing 53 consecutive Test matches and once being touted as the future of Australian batting in the post-Fab Four era, Marnus Labuschagne now faces the harsh realities that come with a prolonged dip in form. Following a string of lean performances over the past season and a half, the Australian selectors have made the tough call to drop the top-order mainstay from the first test of the upcoming Carribean tour. It’s a significant moment in Labuschagne’s career—one that signals both a pause and a challenge in his journey at the highest level.
Since the India series, questions have continued to mount over Marnus Labuschagne’s approach at the crease—accusations that he’s playing not to score runs, but merely to survive. Critics and fans alike have pointed out that this cautious, almost passive version of Marnus is far from the energetic batter who first captured attention during the 2019 Lord’s Test as a concussion substitute. Back then, he was known for his busy style, constantly rotating the strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking, and putting pressure back on the bowlers.
That proactive, instinctive player has been largely absent over the past two years, replaced instead by a version of Labuschagne seemingly caught between intent and indecision.
Marnus Labuschagne’s golden run in Test cricket came between 2019 and 2022—a period during which he firmly established himself as one of the premier batters in the world.
In 2019 alone, he piled up 1,104 runs in 11 Tests at an average close to 65, showcasing his appetite for big scores and consistency. The momentum carried into the following years, as he amassed 929 runs across 8 Tests in 2020 and 2021, averaging nearly 67—a stretch that saw him briefly averaging over 60 in his overall Test career, a mark few achieve.
However, the tide began to turn in 2023. Since then, Labuschagne’s form has dipped sharply. In the 26 Tests he has played since the start of that year, he has managed just one century and has failed to cross a batting average of 35—a stark contrast to the dominant figure he once was at the crease.
The Australian think tank had, until now, delayed what increasingly felt like the inevitable. But following a string of underwhelming performances—most notably in the recent World Test Championship final, where Australia fell short—the need for tough decisions became unavoidable. The first major call came with Marnus Labuschagne being left out of the playing XI, signalling a shift in approach and accountability.
Yet, despite the omission, the support for Labuschagne within the camp remains unwavering. The management, support staff, and his teammates continue to back his ability to rediscover form. Given his deep-rooted obsession with the game—particularly his relentless dedication to batting—it may only be a matter of time before he returns to scoring runs and reclaims his place in the side.
Now, the picture is clearer than ever for someone like Marnus Labuschagne—and that clarity might be exactly what he needs at this stage of his career. The message is simple: score runs and help Australia win, especially with a marquee Ashes series looming Down Under later this summer. This period on the sidelines could serve as the mental reset he needs, a chance to revisit the mindset that defined his breakout in 2019—when he was expressive, instinctive, free from self-doubt, and imposed himself on bowlers with conviction.
If he can tap back into that version of himself, Marnus might not just return—he might return better.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE TEST NUMBERS:
M: 58
I: 104
RUNS: 4435
AVG.: 46.19
50/100: 23/11
Feature image sourced from The Guardian (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
