The debate over Marnus Labuschagne’s spot in the Australian Test team is about to be dialled up to 11.

Firstly, there are some concerning statistics surrounding a player who debuted in 2019 and showed so much promise in his early years in Test cricket.

Labuschagne has scored one century in his last 41 Test innings. In that time, he has made 1109 runs at an average of 30.8, with seven scores above 50.

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His Test average, which was as high as 63.43 in January 2020, dropped to 48.45 after he was trapped in front by Jasprit Bumrah for three on Sunday night.

The manner of Labuschagne’s dismissals in Perth – lbw in each innings – indicates he is playing with a clouded mind, unsure whether to leave or play the ball and also at what tempo to bat.

There are technical issues in his game that need urgent work before the second Test, which starts on December 6 in Adelaide.

That is unless selectors make a big call and drop Labuschagne from the XI. Is it likely? No. Could it happen? Anything is possible.

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