Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, has shown support for Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne following their uncommon failures in the opening Ashes Test. Although disappointed by their low contributions in the match, McDonald highlighted the positive aspect of the team’s ability to secure victory even without significant performances from the duo.

In the Test at Edgbaston, Smith and Labuschagne could only manage a combined total of 35 runs. However, Australia emerged victorious thanks to a crucial 55-run ninth-wicket partnership between captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

McDonald stated, “They’re disappointed they missed out in this game, but I think any time the Australian cricket team can win without those two performing at a high level is always a positive.”

While acknowledging areas for improvement and growth within the team, McDonald expressed confidence in Smith and Labuschagne’s ability to bounce back. Despite being replaced by England’s Joe Root as the top-ranked Test batsman, Labuschagne faced a first-ball dismissal and scored 13 runs, while Smith, who had a remarkable 2019 series, managed only 16 and 6 runs in the two innings of the match.

McDonald emphasized that the coaching staff would offer guidance, but he expected the pair to find their own solutions during net sessions. He believed that Smith and Labuschagne, known for their problem-solving skills, would analyze England’s tactics and devise new plans.

Regarding the upcoming innings, McDonald stated, “They’ll come out pretty clear about what they need to do… But there’s no issue there.” He also mentioned that batting coach Michael Di Venuto would be involved in the process.

McDonald acknowledged the rarity of both Smith and Labuschagne experiencing failures in the same Test match, emphasizing their usual consistency and reliability.

The second Test of the five-match Ashes series is set to begin at Lord’s on June 28.

The lefthanded opener averages 24.25 from his eight Tests in India, well down on his career average of 46.04. Ahead of Australia’s first Test series against South Africa since the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal, Warner’s declining output with the bat has also come under the microscope.

He has not scored a Test century in almost three years and struggled in the recent 2-0 whitewash of West Indies amid off-field distractions brought on by his aborted bid to have his permanent leadership ban lifted. McDonald, however, said Warner was “firmly” in mind for the four-Test tour of India starting in February.

“At this stage, we’ve got him in our plans for India,” McDonald told reporters.”As I said, we’ll see what happens in the next three Test matches.” All eyes will be on Warner during the South Africa series, which opens at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. Warner was one of three Australian players suspended for ‘Sandpaper-gate’ and was adjudged to have played the leading role in the scandal. He was slapped with a lifetime ban on taking leadership roles in Australian teams.

He angrily withdrew his application to have the ban reviewed by an independent panel last week, saying the panel wanted a “public trial” of his part in the Newlands affair. McDonald said Warner had already moved on from the saga and was unlikely to be weighed down by the Newlands’s history when facing the South Africans again.

“He’s great at compartmentalizing, separating the off-field from the on-field. Most of the great champions do that very well,” said McDonald. “He’s moved forward, we’re moving forward as a team. “We’ve got a seriously good opponent confronting us at the Gabba, so our focus is firmly on that and so is David’s.”