Pressure on Labuschagne after flopping in Perth Test

To beat India, Australia will have to bat out of their skins. But with Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne out of form, facing the Indian attack led by Jasprit Bumrah won't be easy.

- Ashish Magotra

In his last eight Tests, Khawaja has averaged 30.60, with no centuries. Smith hasn't fared any better, averaging 29.38 with no centuries in eight Tests while Labuschagne averages just 23.57.

Yet most of the discussion leading into the first Test was about Labuschagne's tryst with medium-pace bowling and the bouncers he intended to bowl at the Indian batters. Maybe that was intended to just distract him and everyone else. But it didn't work.

Two tortured innings at Perth revealed that here is a great who has somehow lost his way in international cricket. His 2 off 52 was of a man struggling with everything he's got. And the 3 in the second innings was of a man just looking to somehow survive. If Labuschagne won't score, there is no point in Australia sticking with him.