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There is risk in it. Given a bit of extra bounce or seam movement, such a shot can be expected to bring plenty of nicks to the wicketkeeper or slips cordon – just ask Mark Taylor, who succumbed to that shot many more times than he would wish to count against the West Indies in particular.

But therein lies another truth of top-order batting. Taylor was also able to prosper from the shot over a long career facing the new ball in an era when the quality of fast bowling and of pitches made opening a more hazardous pursuit than in some later years.

For Labuschagne, there is no alternative to finding more ways to impose pressure. His tortured innings in Perth were those of an obligingly stationary target for Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj and company.

No one is suggesting that Labuschagne start playing like David Warner once did, or Travis Head and Mitch Marsh do now. But he must find a better balance between defence and attack, turning tight deliveries around the corner for singles, forcing through the off side or leaning forward to drive.

As wicketkeeper Alex Carey said of dealing with Bumrah and others, it is a case of finding a way both to score and survive – the two being closely linked.

“He’s obviously a fantastic bowler, has been for a number of years,” Carey said. “Our batters, are world-class as well and always find ways to come up with solutions. I’ve had a look at him now, so hopefully we can combat that first, second spell, get him bowling a little bit deeper in the innings with an older ball.

“We saw Travis sort of play a bit of a counter punch. So I trust our batters will find a way. Not only Bumrah – they played a couple other debutants who bowled well, as well. When the opportunity is there you have to be game-smart at times.

“But I feel like for myself, Trav, Mitch – we play differently to those top four, and we try to go out there with strong intent, whereas the top four can bat all day, and have done it before and really grind teams into the ground.”

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Whatever Labuschagne’s approach, a greater sense of calm and focus would also be a source of reassurance to teammates and spectators alike. Always caffeinated in his energy levels – as befits the owner of his own coffee label – Labuschagne needs to find a way to be less static, but also less frantic.

Said another way, the energy and buzz that Labuschagne brings at his best must be channelled into beating India, rather than himself.

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