Australia is under intense scrutiny after suffering a humiliating 295-run defeat to India in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Following the loss, former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has shared his concerns about Marnus Labuschagne’s recent form, saying he hasn’t been performing well. The former Australian cricketer believes that Labuschagne’s struggles could hurt the team and has urged the selectors to think about dropping him for the second Test against India. Johnson feels making a change in the team could help Australia get back on track in the series.

Labuschagne's recent form has been a cause for concern, with scores of just 2 and 3 in the Perth Test. The 30-year-old has managed an average of just 23.57 since the start of last summer. Johnson, writing in his column for The Nightly, suggested that Labuschagne's poor form warrants a stint away from the national team.

Mitchell Johnson wrote: "Labuschagne—after a lengthy poor run with the bat—should be replaced for the second Test in Adelaide. I honestly believe the best thing for Labuschagne at this stage would be to be left out. It would give him a chance to play some Sheffield Shield and club cricket away from the pressure of playing for your country, and I feel he would benefit from that more than going out there trying to survive against Jasprit Bumrah and co."

Johnson emphasized that this slump is not a new issue for Labuschagne, noting his dismal run in recent innings. "In his past 10 Test innings, he’s passed 10 just once. Cricketers get dropped at some point in their careers, and it’s about how you bounce back from that," Johnson added.

With Pat Cummins and the Australian team facing heavy criticism, the pressure to bounce back in the Adelaide Test is immense. The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to be a day-night fixture, and all eyes will be on Australia's batting order.