Australia v India: Marnus Labuschagne opens up on how he dug deep to climb his way off the canvas in Adelaide

Depending on how you look at it, Marnus Labuschagne won Australia the second Test, writes BEN HORNE. The defiant No. 3 opens up on how he fought back – and what it means.

Marnus Labuschagne has given an insight into his warrior-like performance in Adelaide and took a thinly veiled dig at detractors as he exhaled after a job well done.

Australia appeared to adopt a siege-like mentality heading into the second Test after the storm of criticism they copped for their 295-run first-up loss in Perth and weren’t about to let those they feel have attacked them in the past week off the hook.

“The series now, 1-1. Last week we lost a Test and (we) were, apparently, the worst team ever and this week we finished on day three with the series at one all,” Labuschagne told Fox Cricket.

“It’s nice there is so much talk about the game.”

Labuschagne took a considered pause when asked by Fox Cricket’s Isa Guha if he had felt the pressure after the blowtorch was applied to him after the Perth Test.

Marnus Labuschagne hugs Nathan McSweeney after Australia’s win on day 3. Picture: Michael ERREY / AFP

Travis Head and Mitchell Starc might be credited as the game-breakers for Australia, but without Labuschagne’s heavy-duty 64 the wall might have collapsed.

Depending on how you look at it, Labuschagne’s gutsy knock to get through a treacherous night session on the evening of day one is what won Australia this Test match.

In Perth, Australia’s quicks bowled India out for 150, yet the batting capitulated in reply.

But thanks to Labuschagne and his mate Nathan McSweeney, that didn’t happen in Adelaide and their resilience to see off Jasprit Bumrah zipping the ball around under lights was Test cricket at its toughest.

Had Labuschagne fallen on night one, Australia could easily have collapsed to be five down as India were at the end of the night two, but yet they were able to start in the sunshine only one down and the perfect platform was laid for Head to take the game by the horns.

The fact NSW young gun Sam Konstas made 88 and a returning Test candidate Kurtis Patterson 167 not out at the SCG only emphasises how much trouble Labuschagne would have been in had he failed and Australia lost in Adelaide.

It’s like watching a steam train hurtle over the tracks you’ve just clambered away from, but Labuschagne can now take enormous confidence from the fact he was able to show courage under fire when he was at his last chance saloon.

Labuschagne’s quirky on-field persona sometimes makes him a beacon for criticism and cheap laughs, but his toughness should not be underestimated.

This is a batsman who averaged low 30s before being plucked out of Sheffield Shield cricket by Justin Langer, who saw some of his own warrior traits in Labuschagne.

There are very few cricketers who blossom into better players in the Test arena, but Labuschagne is one and his achievements should not be underestimated.

His fighting half century in Adelaide does not mean he has completely turned his form slump around, but he showed why he cannot be easily dispensed with in this Australian team.

Labuschagne is a key man and he revealed he dug deep into the well to climb his way off the canvas in Adelaide.

Labuschagne ducking under a bouncer during the tricky night session on day 1. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

And the shot that got him out the next day. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“One thing that has been very consistent with this team has been the selection policy and process – it has been very consistent,” Labuschagne told Fox Cricket.

“So, internally, there was not as much but, externally, you know that when you are not playing well, you can’t hide from it, you can’t shirk it, you have to find a way out and, for me, that’s being true to myself and how I got here as a player and that’s hit lots of ball, talk about it, speak to people and find my feet.

“It was nice to be in the runs and help the team to get in a position for us to win the game on the first session of day three. It was nice.

“Obviously there was a lot of talk during the week and I sort of just got back to doing what I know best and it’s hitting lots and lots of cricket balls, looking at heaps of footage and working out where I felt like I was falling short. It’s a bit early to speak but I was able to find it that innings.”