Ashes 2023: If Labuschagne can’t reverse this decline, then Australia’s chances of winning the series are significantly reduced – Alastair Cook

Former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook feels Australia’s number three Marnus Labuschagne is going to hold the key for the visitors if they are to win the ongoing Ashes. Cook reckons if the right-hander fails to turn the tables, then Australia’s chances of winning the series will be significantly reduced.

Labuschagne has got off to numerous starts in the ongoing series against England but he has failed to convert a single one of them.

The right-hander returned with scores of 21 and 33 in the third Test match at Leeds, Headingley which Australia lost by three wickets. Labuschagne has scored 144 runs in three Test matches so far at an average of 24. In fact, he has failed to go past the 50-run mark even on one occasion against the hosts.

Labuschagne has been consistently troubled by England veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad and he hasn’t looked settled at the crease.

In his column for News Limited Publication, “If he can’t reverse this decline in the next two matches then Australia’s chances of winning the series are significantly reduced. Credit to England because they have bowled brilliantly to him – literally from the first ball, when Stuart Broad dismissed him at Edgbaston. Before the series, Broad said he had developed an out swinger with which he was going to target Labuschagne and Smith, and I wonder if that is playing on his mind.”

The former England opener added that even the great players go through slumps in their career. Labuschagne has scored 3605 runs in 41 Test matches at an average of 53.81 and his overall Test average has come down in the ongoing Ashes.

“What separates a great batsman from a good one? Playing with time, going big – 150 and more – once they are well set, the ability to handle all attacks in all conditions. These are all valid metrics. But there’s something else: how quickly he can drag himself out of a slump. Even the best go through slumps and right now that is what Marnus is experiencing.”

Labuschagne will want to bounce back to form in the fourth Test match, which will be played at Old Trafford from 19th July onwards.