Ricky Ponting, the legendary former Australian skipper, has urged struggling batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith to “trust their game” as they prepare for the crucial second Test against India in Adelaide. Drawing inspiration from Virat Kohli’s recent resurgence, Ponting highlighted the importance of self-belief and focusing on personal strengths to overcome lean patches.
Australia’s batting lineup faltered dramatically in the opening Test in Perth, leading to a crushing 295-run defeat. The hosts were skittled out for just 105 runs in the first innings and managed only 238 in the second. The lacklustre performance raised concerns about the home side’s ability to compete in the remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Aside from debutant Nathan McSweeney, who showed promise, senior batters like Usman Khawaja, Labuschagne, and Smith appeared out of form and under pressure.
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Speaking on the ICC Review, Ponting emphasized that Labuschagne, in particular, needs to step up his game to retain his place in the team. “Marnus looked the most tentative of all the batters in Perth. While it was high-quality bowling on a challenging pitch, he must find a way to adapt and turn it around,” Ricky Ponting noted.
Ponting pointed to Kohli’s approach as a blueprint for recovery. After struggling in the first innings, Kohli bounced back with a brilliant century in the second, relying on his strengths rather than overanalyzing the opposition.
“Virat went back to trusting his game and looked like a completely different player. That’s what Marnus and Smith need to do—focus on their own strengths and show intent,” Ricky Ponting added.
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With Australia trailing 0-1 in the series, the pressure is on the hosts to mount a comeback in Adelaide. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been dominated by India for nearly a decade, and the Australians face an uphill battle to reclaim it. Labuschagne and Smith, key pillars of the batting lineup, must rediscover their form to keep Australia in contention and give the home crowd something to cheer about in the second Test.
