Worrying clue Aussie star has been figured out

Australian captain Pat Cummins isn't fazed by a drop in form by the Test team's No.3 Marnus Labuschagne.

The quirky right-hander's Test average remains an enviable 52.15 – a figure almost any batter would kill to have – but there's no denying his 2023 form has been well below his best.

Labuschagne had boasted impressive end-of-year averages of 65, 67, 66, and 56 since bursting onto the international scene as Steve Smith's concussion cover during the 2019 Ashes.

READ MORE: Why NRL must change rules for Bennett

READ MORE: Cummins leaves legends in awe as Aussies take control

READ MORE: NRL investigating Penrith star's Instagram post

This year he has averaged only 36 in Test cricket, and was dismissed for 16 and 2 by Pakistan in Perth. On Wednesday he nicked off for a gritty 63 in Melbourne – his equal second highest score this year.

His only century came in Manchester during the Ashes, and opposition bowlers have found success fishing at his outside edge.

Labuschagne averaged an incredible 64.7 outside his off stump before this year, but in 2023 averages a measly 17.4 there.

"He's struggled to find his rhythm," former England captain Michael Vaughan saidthis week.

"I'm not too sure if there's been a technical change, or just mental.

"To me, he's just trying to survive those channel deliveries. I get the sense with Marnus that he's just thinking about survival."

Cummins, however, is confident both Labuschagne and his idol Smith will bounce back to their best form before too long.

Smith averages 41.86 this year but has struggled for runs since the Ashes.

"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 on Wednesday after play.

"The batters, it wasn't long ago we had one, two, three-ranked in the world and they were right up there.

"So I wouldn't be surprised if they start averaging 60 or 70, but we've toured India this year, 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."

After a home summer against Pakistan and West Indies, Australia faces a trick trip across the Tasman to face New Zealand's quicks on their favourable green wickets.