Michael Clarke idea rejected as Aussie batters blocked from playing ahead of second Test

Former Aussie captain Michael Clarke has seen his idea of the Australian batting line-up getting some extra cricket in ahead of the second Test against India shut down. The top order of Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith all failed to produce against India in the first Test in Perth as Jasprit Bumrah and co ripped through the order in both innings.

In particular, Labuschagne has come under intense scrutiny for his form across the last 18 months having scored 10, 1 not out, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6, 2 and 3 for an average of just 13.66 in his last 10 efforts. However, coach Andrew McDonald has appeared to back the Queenslander to find his form in Adelaide.

Despite calls for changes heading into the second Test in Adelaide, Cummins and McDonald appear ready to back most of the players struggling for form. The only potential change appears to be Beau Webster for Mitch Marsh if the allrounder can't back-up.

However, former captain Clarke has called for the players to get some time in the middle between now and the first ball in Adelaide. The players were give time to go home, before heading into camp before the day-night Test.

Labuschagne was offered time in the middle for his club side, as revealed by Yahoo Sport Australia, but appears unlikely to take that up. And Clarke has called for the players to play for the Prime Minister's XI to get time in the middle with Labuschagne and Smith particularly struggling for form and rhythm ahead of a vital second Test against India.

"As a player when you're under the pump, and you're not making runs, the risk is there," Clarke said on The Big Sports Breakfast. "You go play club cricket, you could get a good ball and you can nick it ... but if the selectors are sticking with the same XI – if I'm out of form as a batter, I'm batting.

"I don't care how big that risk is. Give me some time in the middle because I want to make runs in the next Test, not be scared to fail in the lead-up. "That is definitely a realistic option because you know you're going to get a bat. I'd be taking it before the second Test."

However, coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday the players will not be featuring for the Prime Minister's XI, and instead will be given rest. “We feel that with the long summer ahead, the prep we’ve got in place … we’ll be well prepared as we were leading into the first Test,” McDonald said.

“They’ll have some hits when they’re back home, so part of the preparation will be when they’re at home as well as when we get to Adelaide. Bowlers will go through their work in terms of recovery.”

Marnus Labuschagne backed to find form

While it appears very unlikely there will be changes in the starting XI for the Adelaide Test, the player under the most pressure in the Aussie squad is Labuschagne. The No.3 batter is averaging just 30.28 in Test cricket since February last year.

In his last 10 innings, Labushcagne has scored 10, 1 not out, 3, 5, 1, 2, 90, 6, 2 and 3 for an average of just 13.66. However, coach Andrew McDonald has appeared to back the Queenslander to find his form in Adelaide.

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“We look at the way he plays, and when he’s at his best,” McDonald said. “And when we’ve seen him at his best he’s shown great intent at the crease.

“That’s an ongoing discussion and that ebbs and flows in players’ careers, so at the moment he’s in one of those patches and no doubt he’ll be getting critiqued externally. But internally we’re really confident that, at his best, he’s the player that we need.”