Marnus Labuschagne blames his technique for continued poor batting form

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne revealed how he has been feeling, scoring big runs coming into the Australian cricketing season on the sidelines of the first ODI against India in Perth on Sunday. Notably, Labuschagne was sidelined from Australia's Test squad ahead of their three-match series against West Indies across June and July earlier this year after a string of poor performances.

He also elaborated on how scoring runs was ever so crucial for him after getting neglected from the Australian squad. Labuschagne also pointed out that he had refined his technique into whatever makes run-scoring effective.

”It’s always nice when you’re scoring runs. The only thing I really wanted coming into this summer — take everything out, selections, everything else — I just wanted to be back playing cricket the way I want to be playing, playing with that freedom. It’s nice to have come out and started the way I have. Coming into this summer, runs was going to be the currency and that was probably the big focus point. It doesn’t matter how you score them or what it looks like, just find a way to keep scoring runs. Since then, my technique moulded into whatever the game needs,” stated Labuschagne, as quoted by Fox Sports.

The South Africa-born introspected and mentioned that he felt he was trying to go after perfection rather than playing along with his natural ability. He felt this was hampering with his reasoning while actually batting in the middle.

“There’s a few technical things that I’ve ironed out of my game and had a bit of time to work on. (I was) getting too deep into my technique and trying to be too perfect instead of just playing with what I’ve got; just going out there, reading the game and then using my technique to adjust to whatever they’re bowling and how they’re trying to attack me,” he added.

Labuschagne was not selected in Australia's XI for the first ODI between the Shubman Gill-led side and the hosts. He last played an ODI during when South Africa toured Down Under for a six-match white-ball series. He has struck four tons in the last six innings for Queensland (two each in First-Class and 50-over cricket).