Mind games continue as Australia plot to crush India in first Test

A new weapon might be unleashed on the tourists as the Aussies smell blood.

Star batter Marnus Labuschagne believes India are low on confidence and he wants Australia to kick them while they’re down in the blockbuster opening Test on Friday.

Labuschagne thinks the tourists are suffering from bruised egos after their humiliating series loss to New Zealand on their home soil and Australia can capitalise.

But it’s hard to exactly tell ... the Indian players appeared to be all smiles during training on Tuesday, and they have circled the wagons, still not talking to the media ahead of the Perth Test.

“Having India come here off a loss is something that has never happened before,” Labuschagne said on Tuesday.

“I think that’s a good thing in terms of they are a little bit low on confidence.

“Not coming off a Test victory, losing to New Zealand 3-0, that’s going to do a little bit of damage to their confidence.”

However, Labuschagne said you could “never underestimate” the powerhouse nation.

“At the end of the day, they are a quality line-up, and they are one of the best teams in the world so you can never underestimate a team like that,” he said.

While Labuschagne said it was important to prevent India from a confidence-boosting victory first up, the hosts are more focused on opening their summer with a win.

“Winning the first game of any series is important,” he said.

Marnus Labuschagne is keen to bowl a few bouncers at India. Credit: The West Australian

Friday’s first Test will kick off one of the most-anticipated Australian summers in 18 years, dating back to when Andrew Flintoff’s England arrived for the 2006-07 Ashes.

Unofficially, the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy can be billed as a playoff for the title of best team in the world, with Australia and India ranked No.1 and No.2 respectively.

India’s most recent back-to-back successes in Australia also add to the intrigue, along with the move to a five-Test series and the number of veterans likely battling it out for the final time.

Labuschagne’s batting at No.3 is set to play a key role in the hosts’ hopes of winning the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time in a decade.

But Labuschagne halso revealed he is keen to become Australia’s surprise bouncer weapon with the ball.

With Cameron Green (back) to miss the series and some doubts about how many overs allrounder Mitch Marsh can get through, the ball may be thrown to Labuschagne on a semi-regular basis during the five-Test series.

Labuschagne has unleashed plenty of jokes about the high quality of his bouncers in the lead-up to the series..

But behind the light-hearted banter lies a steely determination from the 30-year-old to be ready if needed.

Across two Shield games this summer, Labuschagne bowled 33.2 overs, picking up three wickets along the way.

That included a haul of 2-5 from 6.2 overs against WA at the WACA, in which his bouncers worked to great effect.

He then bowled 27 overs across two innings in Queensland’s 129-run Shield loss to South Australia last month.

Labuschagne was even seen bowling bouncers at Test captain Pat Cummins in Perth this week in the lead up to the first Test.

“Look, you’ve got to go at the top, don’t you?” Labuschagne said with a smile when asked about bowling bouncers at his skipper.

“I bowled one bouncer, and I think Mitchell Starc said, ‘You’ve got short memories’.

“And I said, ‘Well, I’m going to get them (bouncers directed at me) anyway, so I might as well dish them out’. But yeah, like I said, practice like you play.”

As for the prospect of being given the green light to bowl bouncers at India on what’s expected to be a juicy Optus Stadium deck?

“I would love nothing more than to be that guy,” said Labuschagne, who can bowl both medium pacers and spin.

“But we’ve got to convince the Australian captain of that, so we’ll see. But there’s nothing more enjoyable than bowling bouncers, I love it.”

Labuschagne hasn’t needed to alter his gym routine to prepare for his extra bowling loads, but Cricket Australia staff have been left holding their breath at times.

“There was a bit of worry (from CA staff) when I bowled 28 overs of pace in a Shield game and my workloads were zero before then,” Labuschagne said.

“Some would say that’s a big spike. But my body’s pretty durable, touch wood.

“And it’s something that I’ve done from a young age - I’ve always bowled pace.”

The Australian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

USMAN KHAWAJA

Age: 37

Tests: 73

Playing role: Left-handed batter

Test batting average: 45.80; batting average v India, 34.00

Could this be Khawaja’s final summer? Still batting superbly, but few batters have maintained a high level beyond their 38th birthday.

NATHAN MCSWEENEY

Age: 25

Tests: None (34 first-class games)

Playing role: Right-handed batter

First-class batting average: 38.16

One of the biggest challenges for a rookie in Australian Test history. Has never opened before at Sheffield Shield level, but McSweeney has a genuine opportunity to lock down a permanent spot at the top of the order.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE

Age: 30

Tests: 50

Playing role: Right-handed batter

Test batting average: 49.56; batting average v India, 45.58

A tough two years at Test level for a player who rose to great heights early in his career. Labuschagne’s last Test century came back in July 2023.

STEVE SMITH

Age: 35

Tests: 109

Playing role: Right-handed batter

Test batting average: 56.97; batting average v India, 65.87

Has often saved his best for India. After opening in four Tests earlier this year, Smith will move back to his preferred spot of No.4.

TRAVIS HEAD

Age: 30

Tests: 49

Playing role: Left-handed batter

Test batting average: 41.75; batting average v India, 42.05

Hard to believe the game-changing South Australian was left out for the first Test in India back in February 2023. Has achieved great things at Test and ODI level since.

MITCH MARSH

Age: 33

Tests: 42

Playing role: Allrounder (right-handed batter, right-arm fast-medium)

Test batting average: 30.45; batting average v India, 18.33

The reigning Allan Border Medallist was nowhere near the Test team when Australia toured India in early 2023. An underwhelming record against India, but hasn’t played them since 2018 when he was finding his feet at international level.

ALEX CAREY

Age: 33

Tests: 32

Playing role: Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter

Test batting average: 31.88; batting average v India, 24.28

Silenced critics of his batting with a match-winning knock in Australia’s most recent Test - a thrilling victory against New Zealand in March. Carey’s keeping is elite, now arguably the best Test gloveman in the world.

PAT CUMMINS (capt)

Age: 31

Tests: 62

Playing role: Right-arm fast

Test bowling average: 22.53; bowling average v India, 26.18

Has never played in a winning series against India. Cummins was, sadly, forced to leave the 2023 tour to be with his dying mother. He remains at the top of his game, with his batting often a handy weapon for Australia.

MITCHELL STARC

Age: 34

Tests: 89

Playing role: Left-arm fast

Test bowling average: 27.74; bowling average v India, 38.54

Will be vital to Australia’s chances. If he can regularly blast out India’s top order, Australia will be well on their way to regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

NATHAN LYON

Age: 36 (turns 37 on November 20)

Tests: 129

Playing role: Right-arm offspin

Test bowling average: 30.28; bowling average v India, 31.56

The most experienced member of the XI. Australia’s third most prolific bowler has 530 Test wickets and shows no sign of slowing down.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD

Age: 33

Tests: 70

Playing role: Right-arm fast-medium

Test bowling average: 24.82; bowling average v India, 26.94

Made his debut against India 10 years ago. Was struck down with injuries for an extended period, but has reclaimed his spot as one of Australia’s “Big Three’‘ quicks.

JOSH INGLIS

Age: 29

Tests: None (57 first-class games)

Playing role: Right-handed batter, wicketkeeper

First-class batting average: 36.49

After recently captaining Australia in white-ball matches against Pakistan, the West Australian is in the Test squad as a spare batter, not as a potential replacement for Carey.

SCOTT BOLAND

Age: 35

Tests: 10

Playing role: Right-arm fast-medium

Test bowling average: 20.34; bowling average v India, 27.80

The popular Victorian will only come into the XI should there be an injury to Cummins, Starc or Hazlewood.