Ek samay tha jab Labuschagne Test cricket mein ek deewar ki tarah kade the, lekin 2024-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle mein unki performance ne sabko nirash kiya hai. Aaron Finch, Australia ke purane captain, ne kaha hai ki Labuschagne “opposition par bilkul bhi pressure nahi daal rahe.” Yeh ek sakht bayan hai, jo unke abhi ke struggle ko saaf dikhata hai. X par ek post mein @sujeetsuman1991 ne bhi kaha tha ki Labuschagne ka form kaafi had tak gir chuka hai, aur consistency ki kami unke number 3 position ke liye khatra ban rahi hai. Unka Test average, jo kabhi 50 ke upar tha, ab 2024 mein girkar 25.8 tak pahunch gaya hai, jaisa ki @thomasjameoneil ne January 2025 mein point out kiya tha.
Yeh dekhkar yaad aata hai ki kaise ek samay mein Labuschagne ne apne aap ko duniya ke top batsmen mein shamil kiya tha. 2019 Ashes series mein, jab Steve Smith chot ke wajah se bahar ho gaye the, Labuschagne ne unki jagah li aur apne debut ke baad se ek bhi Test match miss nahi kiya. Unki technique, patience, aur opposition bowlers ko thakane ki kshamata ne unhe ek alag pehchan di. Us samay unki tulna Sir Don Bradman se bhi ki gayi thi, jab unhone back-to-back centuries score kiye. Lekin ab, unka yeh form ka sankat unke career ke liye ek bada sawal khada kar raha hai. Mitchell Johnson jaise purane players ne bhi suggest kiya hai ki shayad Labuschagne ko ab Test team se bahar baithkar Sheffield Shield ya club cricket mein wapas form dhundhna chahiye.
Ab thodi ummeed ki baat karte hain. Labuschagne ke paas woh talent hai jo unhe wapas top par la sakta hai. Unki dedication aur hard work kisi se chhupa nahi hai. Yaad kijiye 2023 Ashes series, jab England ke bowlers ne unhe pareshan kiya, lekin unhone apni technique mein chhote-chhote changes karke wapas form pakdi. Ek post mein @ICC ne bataya tha ki Ricky Ponting ne Labuschagne ke liye WTC 2025 final mein batting order mein upar jaane ki prediction ki thi. Yeh dikhata hai ki cricket ke bade naam ab bhi un par bharosa rakhte hain. Australia ke coach ne bhi 2024 mein kaha tha ki unke form ko lekar koi badi chinta nahi hai. Labuschagne ke paas woh mental strength hai jo unhe iss bura phase se nikal sakti hai, jaise ki Joe Root ne 2021 mein apne career ke low point ke baad wapas shandaar comeback kiya tha.
Lekin chinta ab bhi barkarar hai. WTC final ke liye Australia ke pasand ke faisle mein Labuschagne ka naam ek sawal ban gaya hai. @JacobVineet ne X par likha ki team ke samne teen bade selection dilemmas hain, aur Labuschagne ka form unme se ek hai. Jab Jasprit Bumrah jaise bowlers ke khilaf khelna ho, toh aapko apne top batsmen se consistency chahiye, jo abhi Labuschagne mein nahi dikh rahi. @TUnlimitedd ne bhi kaha ki unhe WTC final mein apne runs aur balls faced ko kaafi badhana hoga. Agar woh apne aap ko jaldi na sambhale, toh shayad pehli baar 2019 ke baad unhe Test team se bahar ka rasta dekhna pad sakta hai. Yeh ek sakht sachchai hai, aur cricket ke is khel mein, jahan form aur fitness sab kuch hai, Labuschagne ko jaldi hi apna purana rang wapas lana hoga.
