What is going wrong for Marnus Labuschagne in Test cricket? Decoding his massive dip in form

Marnus Labuschagne’s Test batting concerns continued against Bangladesh.

Marnus Labuschagne emerged as one of Australia’s most dependable Test batters but then went on to face serious questions over his place in the Australian top order. His career has already produced several impactful innings and has been lined with several memorable performances, but the consistency offered by him has flickered in recent times. 

The Australian batter’s recent dip in form in the longest format of the game has been particularly noted because of the extraordinary standards set during the early days of his Test career. Having made his debut back in 2018 against Pakistan, Labuschagne set a benchmark, quickly evolving as one of the world’s leading run-scorers in Test cricket, rising quickly to the no. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings. 

Marnus Labuschagne has played in 64 Tests, scoring 4726 runs at an average of 44.16, with eleven centuries and 25 half-centuries in his career. His highest score remains 215, while he has also contributed from time to time with his part-time leg-spin bowling, taking 14 wickets. 

Labuschagne’s peak came soon after his international debut in 2018; his peak remained between 2019 and 2022, when his Test average remained extraordinarily high, consistently averaging 64.94 in 2019, 67.16 in 2020, 65.75 in 2021 and 56.29 in 2022. During this era Labuschagne produced 3789 runs across 43 Tests averaging 53.36.

Labuschagne always had the ability to make confident starts and convert them into substantial scores, which defined Australia’s middle-order batting.  

Marnus Labuschagne’s sharp decline in Test form since 2023

Marnus Labuschagne’s biggest concern is the dramatic difference between his peak and his recent output over the last few seasons. His Test average has been falling drastically to 34.91 in 2023, 30.93 in 2024 and 20.84 in 2025. 

Labuschagne, who was once one of the most significant run-scorers in WTC history, scored his last century against England back in 2023 at Old Trafford. Since then, he has gone through a very rough patch and has been on a century drought. Also, he has accumulated only 937 runs in over 40 innings at an average of 26.03. 

Hence, the problem seems steep: his concern is not only a lack of big scores but also the overall fall in run production. The pressure heightened during the 2025-26 Ashes series, when Labuschagne managed to score just 259 runs in the series at an average of 28.77. 

Labuschagne’s struggle has continued during Australia’s ongoing series against Bangladesh, where he was dismissed for just 1 and 31 runs across the two innings. Starting the second Test at Mackay, Labuschagne was once again dismissed for just four runs in the first innings. 

What is wrong with Marnus Labuschagne’s Test form?

Labuschagne’s biggest challenge appears to be converting small starts into a substantial score. His once reliable method of occupying the pitch and building a huge innings is no longer producing the same impact as in the early years of his Test career. 

Labuschagne’s recent dismissals have suggested that his method is surely less consistent. Instead of regularly getting through the difficult opening phase and then accelerating, Labuschagne has now found himself getting dismissed cheaply before he can settle in the innings. 

His timing and confidence are not at their peak, yet his tendency to play with a high individual method has added to his weakness. The selector’s pressure is also increasing on the Australian batter. He was dropped from the Australian Test side for the West Indies tour in 2025 before being brought back in. 

Following Australia’s recent batting concerns and their nine-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in Darwin, Marnus’ batting has been further subjected to criticism, although Andrew McDonald considered giving him another chance in the second Test at Mackay. However, until his form returns, the questions over his place at no. 3 will continue. 

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