Pat Cummins’ massive Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne call amid Test form slump

Pat Cummins has backed Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to recapture form despite a marked drop-off in 2023. Image: Getty

Aussie cricket captain Pat Cummins has backed the struggling Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to recapture their best form, stating that their 2023 form slump doesn’t concern him. Smith and Labuschagne as recently as June were ranked as No.1 and No.2 in ICC’s Test batting rankings but have plummeted down the list in recent months as they have only managed four centuries combined in their past 45 innings.

Smith was dismissed for 26 on Tuesday in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan and has made just 879 runs at 41.85 this calendar year. While Labuschagne has notched 799 runs at 36.31 after being dismissed by Aamer Jamal for 63 on Wednesday.

‘MODERN FIRST’: David Warner slammed for Test act by ex-selector

‘JOKE’: Cricket world blows up on Marnus and Khawaja farce

It is a marked decline from the pair’s dizzying heights where they averaged well above 60, but Cummins isn’t at all worried. The Aussie captain believes the pitches that Smith and Labuschagne have had to bat on this year are nothing like those they took on in 2019 when Smith averaged 75 and Labuschagne averaged 65.

“I mean, when they were averaging 60 each year, you thought, ‘Oh, well that’s going to be an outlier’, and four or five years later, we’re all kind of in awe that they’ve kept up that standard,” Cummins said. “The batters, it wasn’t long ago we had one, two, three-ranked in the world and they were right up there.

Pat Cummins believes the picthes that Smith and Labuschagne have had to bat on this year are nothing like those they took on in 2019 when Smith averaged 75 and Labuschagne averaged 65. Image: Getty (Daniel Pockett – CA via Getty Images)

“So I wouldn’t be surprised if they start averaging 60 or 70, but we’ve toured India this year, and some of the wickets in Australia haven’t been like they were five or six years ago either. You see the hours they put in in the nets, they’re still hitting it as well as they ever have, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they start churning out hundreds all the time.”

Pat Cummins ‘pleased’ with Australia’s batting performance

The Australian captain said he was pleased by the way his side batted in the first innings despite a collapse of 6-68 in the first session on day two. “It was really tough, even the outfield is not very quick here, so 300 is probably worth at least 400,” he said.

Story continues

“(Labuschagne’s) 60 or 70 was probably worth 100-odd in the context of the game. I’m happy with our batting performance, and to have them six (wickets) down overnight, still a fair way behind, puts us in a good position I think.”

Pat Cummins back to his best with the ball

Cummins was back to his lethal best with the ball at the MCG on Wednesday, stepping up as Pakistan was cruising on day two. At one point Pakistan was 1-124 but Cummins stepped up twice in as many overs to remove opener Abdullah Shafique (62) and Babar Azam (one) to swing the momentum back in Australia’s favour.

After Shafique and Babar fell in quick succession, Pakistan hobbled to 6-194 at stumps. “To have them six (wickets) down overnight, still a fair way behind puts us in a good position,” Cummins said. “I think the wicket is gonna get better and better so obviously it sets us up nicely.

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.

Yahoo Australia