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'Looking quite good' - Hussey backs Marnus Labuschagne despite Test struggles

Former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has offered public support to Marnus Labuschagne despite mounting pressure and calls for the batter to be dropped from the Test squad following a difficult outing against South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Australia stumbled badly on the fourth day, collapsing to 99 all out in their opening innings and facing a follow-on before reaching 156/4 in their second attempt while still trailing by 170 runs.

Labuschagne has drawn heavy criticism for failing to turn his starts into substantial scores, including a 39-run dismissal against spinner Simon Harmer that prompted analyst Gerard Whateley to advocate for his immediate removal from the lineup. Hussey defended the thirty-one-year-old athlete by arguing that he is moving fluently at the crease early in his innings compared to past struggles, even though a prolonged drought without a fifty-plus score now stretches across fourteen consecutive innings.

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