Former England captain Michael Vaughan was critical of veteran Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne for his knock of nine runs off 82 deliveries on Day 2 of the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval. However, Labuschagne struggled to score at the start of Day 2 before eventually getting out as well. Despite his poor shows in the first three Tests, he scored a half-century and a century in the fourth Test in Manchester as well.

Vaughan told Cricbuzz at the end of the second day’s play: “I love the way he plays when he is at his best. Manchester, he was at his best because he was busy, looking to score. He was getting the feet moving towards the ball with an intent of trying to score. Thought he was just so negative this morning. Not the Marnus I’ve seen over the last few years.”

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However, despite his heroics in the last game, Labuschagne has averaged only 35 in nine innings and he batted at a strike rate of less than 50 in the ongoing Ashes series as well. He otherwise has an overall Test average of 53.94 and a strike rate of 53.08 in 43 games as well. Notably, Labuschagne scored 111 in the second innings in Manchester that helped Australia faced a defeat and retain the Ashes as well.

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“Marnus at his best doesn’t think about the light. He just stares at the ball and reacts. It’s been a tour where he has averaged 35 which is not bad, not horrific. But sometimes he might overcomplicate the logic of what’s required,” said Vaughan.”Maybe in the second innings we’ll see a different Marnus, we’ll see him like the second innings at Old Trafford. But Marnus is one of those studiers of the game and he’ll realise that the way he played this morning is not the player we’ve seen over the last few years,” concluded Michael Vaughan.