At one point in time, Marnus Labuschagne, the Queensland batter, was Australia’s most reliable and consistent run-scorer in Test cricket. He was almost on par with Steve Smith as one of the most important players in the red-ball setup, up until 2023.
Labuschagne became a headache for the opposition bowlers, and he was destined to take the world by storm before disaster struck and his downfall began.
Despite making his Test debut in 2018, Labuschagne’s real test began during the Ashes 2019 when he came in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith , and he instantly became a fan favourite for his gritty batting approach.
Labuschagne's Test career in two halves: From being at the top to now struggling for runs The dominant part: From 2019-22 Between 2019 and 2022, the right-handed Australian batter scored plenty of runs, but since the start of 2023, he hasn’t been the same, and the numbers are there to be seen.
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(Labuschagne Test stats from 2019-22)
As stats reveal, he became a permanent member of the Australian Test team in 2019, and since then, he racked up runs for fun until 2023. From 2019-22, the talented player scored 2990 runs, with an average of 62.29, including 10 hundreds and 12 fifties. He scored runs in Australia, in England, and against all opponents, as Labuschagne was also touted as the future Australian Test captain. In the four-year time frame, his worst average in any year was 56.29 (in 2022), and it showcased how dominant he was in red-ball cricket. The downfall: From 2023-present He scored hundreds for fun, but the numbers- the centuries and the average dropped massively since the start of 2023.
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(Labuschagne Test numbers since 2023)
In the last three-and-a-half years, Labuschagne has witnessed a slump in red-ball form, and the numbers reveal his sorry state of affairs. Also Read: Has Bangladesh Ever Defeated Australia In Tests?
In 32 Tests, he has only scored 1624 runs, with an average of 30.07. Moreover, in the same period, he has scored only a solitary hundred, and that too came in 2023. In the last three years, his Test averages have been 30.93, 20.85, and 28.67, respectively, and for some reason, the Australian team is still persisting with him at number 3. Labuschagne's downfall similar to what happened with Ajinkya Rahane Labuschagne’s downfall is similar to what Ajinkya Rahane suffered during his Test tenure with India. Unlike other Indian batters, the former vice-captain boasted an impeccable Test record away from home, but the numbers declined after 2020.
Ajinkya Rahane Test stats from debut till 2020 CriterionSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
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(Rahane Test stats till 2020)
From his debut in 2013 till 2020, Rahane was one of the most important players alongside captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. He scored 4384 runs and scored hundreds on seam-friendly wickets: MCG, Lord’s, and on rank turners: Delhi 2015. During the same period, he averaged 43.41, and the Mumbaikar was supposed to finish his red-ball journey on a high. Rahane's downfall since 2021 At the start of 2021, Rahane helped India win an away series against Australia with a depleted squad, and his Test career was supposed to skyrocket, but that never happened.
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(Rahane Test stats from 2021-23)
From 2021-23, the right-handed batter witnessed a slump, as runs dried up, and he also lost his place in the Indian team. He scored just 965 runs in 22 Tests, with an average of 25.39, and not a single century under his belt. Such was his downfall that after the two-match Test series against the West Indies in 2023, Rahane was dropped from the team, and he recently announced his retirement . The parallels between Labuschagne and Rahane Both Labuschagne and Rahane have had a similar career path. Both started on a bright note, and quickly became an integral part of their Test team.
Both players scored runs in their early careers in Tests, and also scored match-winning hundreds. However, after a point, both stars fell off.
After a point, bowlers found Rahane’s weakness (indecisive footwork), which led to several of his dismissals. The same is the case with Labuschagne, who has a tendency to play the away-going deliveries, and the bowlers often induced an outside edge to dismiss him in recent years.
Just like the Indian batter never really worked on his weakness in the latter stages of his career, Labuschagne, too, has failed to rectify his mistakes in the last three years.
Rahane was dropped after the 2023 WTC final, and the Aussie batter could have a similar fate after the Bangladesh series.
Also Read: R Ashwin’s House Swarmed By Police While On Camera
![Labuschagne has witnessed a similar Test downfall as Rahane [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1786701478488_LabuschagnehaswitnessedasimilarTestdownfallasRahane.jpg?type=hq)
Labuschagne has witnessed a similar Test downfall as Rahane [Source: AFP]
