Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels a big score is right around the corner for Marnus Labuschagne in the ongoing Ashes. Labuschagne has failed to bat at his best in the ongoing Ashes as he has managed only 90 runs in the four innings.
In fact, the talismanic batter got off to starts in both innings of the second Test match at Lord’s but failed to make a big score. Labuschagne scored 47 runs in the first innings before he was dismissed by Ollie Robinson as he edged to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow.
Furthermore, Labuschagne was dismissed for 30 in the second innings when he played a loose shot against James Anderson on an innocuous delivery outside the off-stump. In fact, the right-hander also had a rub of the green on his side as England didn’t review when he was plumbed in front of the wickets against Stuart Broad but he failed to make the most of his second life.
“He played and missed a few times, but he scored more freely which is the biggest concern I had with him. It looked like he was losing a lot of his scoring options,” Ponting said on ICC review.
“The fact that he was able to tweak things a little bit and change things a little bit between games is a great sign for him,” Ponting said.
Ponting also revealed he shared a few tips with Marnus Labuschagne when he was training before the Lord’s Test match and the right-hander was quickly able to pick them up.
“I actually took my son Fletcher to training for two days in a row to watch the Aussies here at Lord’s and we sat behind the nets, and I got a chance to watch Marnus and what he was working on,” Ponting said during the Lord’s Test match.
“I actually just mentioned a few words to him through the net about a few things, but he’s a very fast learner as well,” he further added.
The former legendary Australian skipper added Labuschagne has worked hard on his technique after twin failures in Edgbaston.
“He wouldn’t have been happy with the way that he played in the first few innings here in the UK and he makes small adjustments all the time. I think what he did from Edgbaston to here worked for him as well,” Ponting concluded.
On the final day of the second Test match, England needs another 257 runs whereas Australia requires six more wickets to take a 2-0 lead.
