Former Australia captain Greg Chappell has offered advice to Marnus Labuschagne as the batter continues to struggle for runs in Test cricket. Chappell believes the right-hander's return to form must begin with a change in mindset, suggesting that his current approach at the crease is far different from the style that made him one of Australia's most dependable batters.

Labuschagne has not scored a Test century since his 111 against England at Old Trafford in July 2023. Since then, he has gone through 26 Tests and 49 innings without reaching three figures, scoring 1,094 runs at an average of 24.31, with nine half-centuries. His recent struggles continued during Australia's series against South Africa, where he managed 131 runs across six innings at an average of 21.83.

Marnus Labuschagne's Test career under serious threat

Labuschagne's decline becomes clearer when his early Test numbers are compared with his recent returns. During his first 74 Test innings, he scored 11 centuries, establishing himself as one of the most prolific batters in the format.

However, the following period has been very different. He has not registered a hundred in his last 49 innings.

His first 51 Test innings produced 3,010 runs at an impressive average of 61.42, including 10 centuries and 13 fifties. In his last 72 innings, he has managed 1,851 runs at 28.47, with just one century and 12 half-centuries.

The numbers reflect a prolonged loss of consistency rather than a brief dip in form. Labuschagne has also struggled to convert starts into substantial scores. His latest series against South Africa added to the concerns, as he finished with scores of 0 and 4 in the final Test.

Greg Chappell claims Marnus Labuschagne is going through EPDS

Greg Chappell believes Labuschagne is experiencing what he describes as Elite Players Decline Syndrome (EPDS), a mental challenge that can affect experienced batters who become increasingly conscious of the difficulty of scoring runs at the highest level. He argued that the Australian needs to rediscover the mindset he had earlier in his career.

“For Marnus Labuschagne, as he looks to find his best form again, any turnaround has to start in his head,” Greg Chappell wrote in his column for Cricinfo.

"Almost every elite batter who has played at the highest level for an extended period goes through what I call Elite Players Decline Syndrome (EPDS). Sachin Tendulkar asked me years ago why batting gets harder as you get older. Surely it must get easier! As I explained to Sachin, it gets harder because you know how difficult it is to make runs against quality bowling attacks, and you get more conservative as you age. The only way I know to overcome EPDS is to recreate the thought processes of your younger self. That is easier said than done,” he wrote.

“Watching Marnus recently, I suspect he too is suffering from EPDS. When I hear him talk about having to work harder, I doubt he will turn his form around anytime soon. His struggle to get past 40 in recent Tests is a testament to this. Under these circumstances, making 40 takes more effort than a century once did, and mental errors usually bring about your downfall,” Greg Chappell added.

To watch him now, he is crab-like at the crease - Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell also identified a visible change in Labuschagne's batting technique. He recalled how the batter once moved quickly towards the ball and played with freedom, but feels his footwork and movement have become restricted.

“I remember watching Marnus in his pomp and seeing his feet move quickly, like John Travolta’s on the dance floor. He was obviously watching the ball closely out of the bowler’s hand, picking up clues from the bowler’s body language, and pouncing on deliveries like a seagull on food scraps. If you look at footage of those times, you will notice that his stance looked very athletic, with his weight solely on the balls of his feet. His footwork was decisive, and he got to the pitch of the ball in a flash. He could attack nearly every delivery. Timing and placement were his hallmark,” Greg Chappell said.

"To watch him now, he is crab-like at the crease and rarely makes contact with the ball in front of the popping crease. Where he once got to the ball a metre in front of the crease with a full, flowing bat, he is now prodding around, searching for the ball with his hands. Where he was once cat-like in his movements, he is now flat-footed, as though he doesn’t pick up the ball until it is halfway down the pitch. Flat feet do not let you access the ground-reaction forces that help you move forward or back. He now has very few balls he can attack, which feeds his frustration,” Greg Chappell added.