Marnus Labuschagne joins state counterparts for net hit as he looks to get aggressive

Australian top order batter Marnus Labuschagne has opened up on his recent poor form after being pictured working tirelessly in the nets at home in Queensland. The 30-year-old is facing immense pressure heading into the second Test against India in Adelaide next week, having just two runs off 52 in his side’s first innings disaster in Perth, before an ugly dismissal late on day three where he fell over after being pinned LBW. It is a far cry for the experienced batsman, who once averaged more than 60 in Test cricket, but now has passed double digits just once in his past 10 innings. Labuschagne joined a Queensland Bulls training session on Thursday, where he spent close to an hour-and-a-half in the nets at the Allan Border Field. He batted in three separate nets and also faced throw-downs from the side’s coach, Johan Botha. Labuschagne said after the session it was tough to lose a game where you haven’t managed to score runs. “That is your job as a batter. You have to score runs. I have to score runs. If I am not doing that we are not winning Tests,” he told Channel 7. “I’m always training hard, always trying to find that right rhythm and that right space to be in. “We’ve got about eight days until the Test ... so unfortunately it doesn’t matter until we roll out on that Day 1 wicket.” Australia have said they will not be making drastic changes after their harrowing defeat with Labuschagne’s spot safe for Adelaide but coach Andrew McDonald did suggest he needed to show more intent at the crease. “We look at the way he plays, and when he’s at his best - and when we’ve seen him at his best he’s shown great intent at the crease,” McDonald said “That’s an ongoing discussion and that ebbs and flows in players’ careers, so at the moment he’s in one of those patches.” A spotlight was on the national side’s preparation for the Adelaide Test earlier this week after opting to let players return home to rest instead of playing in the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra or club cricket. Australia — who are expected to land in Adelaide on Saturday — were decimated by the Indians at Optus Stadium, with Nathan McSweeney managing a total of 10 runs in his first Test as opener, while Steve Smith also failed to fire with the bat. India will also welcome back opener Rohit Sharma for the pink-ball Test, with No.3 Shubman Gill also touted for a possible return from injury.