Pat Cummins‘ side slumped to a huge 295-run defeat by India in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Perth.
After Australia struggled with the ball in hand on Thursday, with Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a pair of centuries for the tourists, the hosts’ hopes of snatching a victory appeared to slip further and further away.
Starting the fourth day with 12 runs for three wickets, Sunday afternoon’s batting collapse seemed to carry on into Monday morning, after Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney were all dismissed before the close of play.
Despite an inspired 89 from Travis Head and 47 runs from Mitchell Marsh, Australia conceded the first Test in Perth managing a second-innings score of 238.
The result has raised further questions over the credentials of Australia’s top-order batters, with Steve Smith also struggling on day four, hitting 17 runs off 60 deliveries.
He and Labuschagne are now firmly in the spotlight, with Smith also notably being dismissed for no runs in the first innings, while the Queensland batter was sent walking for two, off 52.
On a pacey wicket and against the firepower of India captain Jasprit Bumrah – the player of the match – and Mohamed Siraj, scoring runs has been a difficult task, with the Baggy Greens managing just 104 runs in their first innings.
‘Fairly disappointing,’ Cummins said to Fox Cricket reflecting on the match. ‘We thought our prep leading in was really good.
‘It was one of those games where not much went right. So [we’ve got] a fair bit to look at leading into next week.’
When pressed by Adam Gilchrist over whether Australia’s top order are safe in their positions, Cummins said: ‘There’s a lot of experience there, this summer it’s a sample size of one.
‘They’re going about it and doing really well but no doubt we’ve got a bit of work to do.
‘This week I’m sure there will be plenty of conversations. Plenty of time in the nets. If we come up against a similar attack in similar conditions, what are those things we could have done a bit better?’
Australia will now have an 11-day break before they return to take on India in Adelaide, and when asked whether the break will be beneficial to help Australia turn things around, Cummins said: ‘It is what it is.
‘After a loss you always want to get back on the horse pretty quickly but we’ll take a couple of days rest and we’ll get into Adelaide and I think we’ll have good prep leading into that Test.’
Pundits question Labuschagne’s form
Questions have been raised over the form of Labuschagne following the match, after the No 3 was sent walking for lbw on Sunday afternoon on the fifth delivery he had faced.
The Glamorgan and Queensland batsman had not even offered a shot before a ball from Siraj found him floundering wide of his crease. The ball subsequently struck him square in the pads.
He would subsequently review the decision, which many fans online thought was plum, with television match officials concurring with the on field decision.
‘Labuschagne’s got it horribly wrong,’ James Brayshaw said on Channel Seven’s coverage.
Former Test bowler Damien Fleming offered his view on the dismissal on SEN, claiming: ‘You can handle playing a shot to a good ball and getting an outside edge.
‘That type of dismissal is just not good enough from your No.3 in a tough battle.
‘It was a good length, it was just outside off stump, it didn’t do anything extreme.’
Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor claimed it was ‘inexplicable’ that Labuschagne, 30, did not attempt to use his bat to fend off the delivery.
SEN commentator and Footy broadcasting legend Gerard Whateley claimed that his misjudgement shows he has ‘lost technique’ before questioning the Aussie No 3’s credentials in the Test side.
‘You cannot go out there without the intention to use your bat. It’s so symbolic of where he finds himself in his game,’ Whateley said.
But with Smith also struggling, being dismissed for 17 runs on Monday, big question marks revolve over where Australia are going to score.
More to follow…
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