India vs Australia | Marnus Labuschagne says Aussies fell into India trap in Melbourne

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sydney, January 1: Marnus Labuschagne was making no excuses for Australia's batting struggles as he backed Steve Smith to find form against India. India levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 after completing an eight-wicket victory in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Australia's best score of the series so far came at the MCG, making 200 in the second innings of the loss. Labuschagne, who is the second leading run-scorer in the series with 129 at 32.25, said India's bowlers deserved credit.

"You don't want to give any excuses or any other reasons for why we're not scoring runs," he told a news conference.

"They've been very good, they've bowled very well and been real consistent so for us it's just making sure we find a way. There's only been four innings so far in this series, some people have only batted three, so for us it's just making sure we keep finding ways to score runs.

"It doesn't have to be pretty, but we've just got to keep grinding and keep finding a way and if we do get in we've got to make sure we get those big scores."

The major concern for the hosts has been their inability to score big runs against the India. After the two Tests, the highest total that Australia has managed to put on board is 200. R Ashwin has been very crucial for the visitors when it comes to keeping Labuschagne and Steve Smith in check

Smith has struggled to begin the series, scoring just 10 runs while being dismissed three times.

"Ashwin is a great bowler and a great thinker. He always comes in really prepared and they have been really crafty with their field and what they have been trying to do. Look, we have fallen into their trap a few times but at the end of the day, someone is going to get you out in a game of cricket. So, for us, it is just about making sure we review those dismissals and come back stronger and make sure we are learning from each innings," Labuschagne said.

But Labuschagne backed the right-hander's quality as Australia prepare for the third Test, which will start in Sydney on Thursday.

"You don't average above 60 after 80-odd games and … he's shown he's so consistent, even from the start of his career to now, he just keeps putting the runs on the board," he said. "Call it what you want to call it, but not long ago he got two hundreds off 60-odd balls in one-dayers.

"He's not short of runs, maybe he has played a lot of white-ball cricket and he probably hasn't had as much time against the red ball as he would've liked, but that's the reality of cricket and this COVID situation so we've just to keep finding ways, keep hitting lots of balls at training and finding ways to get runs when we get out there."