Australian cricket great Adam Gilchrist has backed Marnus Labuschagne to overcome his current dip in form as the summer of cricket continues.

Labuschagne has been battling at the crease in recent months and now finds himself under significant pressure to retain his place in the Test side.

During the Aussies’ 295-run defeat at the hands of Indiain Perth, the Queensland product could only manage two from 52 balls in the first innings before adding only three in the second.

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Speaking to 3AW’s Wide World of Sports radio, Gilchrist said Labuschagne’s lean period had less to do with technique and more to do with conditions and what the opposition had in the arsenal.

“I’m sure the people around him are already doing this but he needs to be reminded that he is a class act,” Gilchrist said.

“He’s got a game that has been able to tolerate and withstand everything that the cricketing world has presented, and he’s dominated for a number of years.”

Labuschagne’s long-form record has taken a dive since December 2022 when he was the No.1 men’s Test batter in the world with an average of 60.82.

Now, the 30-year-old is positioned equal 14th and averages 48.45 after 51 Tests.

Labuschagne has brought up just one century from his past 41 Test innings.

In turning his game more defensive, Gilchrist thinks the right-hander is overthinking his plays at the ball.

“Most players that have played long enough will have been in this situation at some point in time and it’s about not letting any self-doubt creep in and understanding you don’t lose that skill — you don’t lose that edge — [and] certainly not in a short space of time,” he said.

Speaking from personal experience, Gilchrist’s advice to Labuschagne was simple.

“Trust your training, get out there, see the ball and play it,” he said.

After Jasprit Bumrah ripped apart Australia’s line-up in Perth, Gilchrist said the hosts needed to go defensive to “weather the storm”.

“Marnus had the onus to do that and tried at good effect to nullify 50-odd deliveries. So, if you face an average of 50 deliveries every Test innings, you’re probably going to be on the right side of the ledger more than you’re on the wrong side of it,” he said.

“He just couldn’t find a way to score and maybe that’s what [the Australians] as a collective will look to try and do.

“It will bring with it risk, for sure, but it’s [a] risk for reward.”

If the Australian camp feels they are vulnerable with the bat, Gilchrist tipped Sean Abbott to come into the side over Scott Boland as cover for the injured Josh Hazlewood.

“They did send out the SOS to him,” Gilchrist said.

Australia is aiming to bounce back in the second Test against India, which begins at 3pm AEDT on Friday at Adelaide Oval.