Australian head coach Andrew McDoland has backed Marnus Labuschagne as he insisted the out-of-form batter as the "player Australia need" ahead of the second Test in Adelaide.

Marnus Labuschagne is having rough patch with the bat. Over the last 12 months, he has managed to gather only 330 runs at a dismal average of just 23.57, with the best score of 90, including 10 single digit scores.

During the Perth Test against India, he was trapped LBW in both the innings with single digit scores. But he has got his head coach and captain's backing despite having poor form.

"We look at the way he plays, and when he's at his best - and when we've seen him at his best he's shown great intent at the crease," McDonald said.

"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."

"It's always a combination of factors with the mindset," said McDonald when asked how Labuschagne could return to form. "There's some technical aspects to that also within the mindset play.

"We're really confident he can turn that around."

The second Test between Australia and India commences from December 6 at the Adelaide Oval.