CLeave all the nonsense': AB de Villiers blames Marnus Labuschagne's struggles on falling into a 'trap' of copying Steve Smith

CLeave all the nonsense': AB de Villiers blames Marnus Labuschagne's struggles on falling into a 'trap' of copying Steve Smith originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:AB de Villiers says Marnus Labuschagne fell into the trap of copying Steve Smith.He believes Labuschagne's technique is sound and the problem is entirely mental.Labuschagne managed 131 runs in six innings in South Africa, with a top score of 39.AB de Villiers says Labuschagne fell into a Steve Smith 'trap'Marnus Labuschagne finished the series in South Africa with scores of 0 and 4 at Newlands, and Australia's 2-1 defeat has left his place looking precarious. AB de Villiers, discussing the series on 360 LIVE on his YouTube channel on Sunday, offered a diagnosis that had nothing to do with technique.The former South Africa captain made it clear that he does not think Labuschagne's technique is broken. "The technique, in my opinion, still very sound. But unfortunately for him, just never got that attacking mindset back and that go-getter kind of spirit."Asked whether the pattern of getting to 30 and failing to convert was a mental issue, de Villiers did not hedge. "Yeah, 1,000% mental. Yes. And when I looked at him play, there was just a lot of hesitation and doubt, almost."His view is that Labuschagne has spent energy on the wrong things. "Just very iffy with his movements and decisiveness, and spending way too much energy on all the sights and waiting, batting the air, twist and turn and doing the Steve Smith kind of thing. That's not his thing. He should have done his own blueprint."You know, he almost maybe fell into the trap of a lot of sights like a Steve Smith. There's a lot happening at the crease when he's batting, except for the bat actually doing the talking and getting on top of the ball and showing positive intent.He expects the consequences to be immediate. "I guess there's just too much pressure from the outside now, from past players, from the media, too much pressure on the selectors, and that's probably his last Test match for a while. Hopefully for him he gets another run, but I doubt it."MORE: ‘Great career, Marnus, but it’s the end’: Ex-AUS stars pick top 7 for NZ seriesSmith mimicry has been there for years but De Villiers feels it doesn't fit Labuschagne's natureDe Villiers is not describing something new. Labuschagne's imitation of Smith's mannerisms has been a running feature of his career, to the point where he has taught it to opponents, as he did with Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan before the Lahore Test in 2022.Footage of him shouting "no run" after leaving a Jasprit Bumrah delivery in the 2020 Adelaide Test drew a dry "that is odd behaviour" from Allan Border on commentary. The crab walk, the lightsaber leave and the air-batting all arrived with it.For a long stretch, it coincided with output rather than its absence. Labuschagne averaged well over 60 across a four-year period and scored a century every three Tests.Cricket analyst Ben Jones, writing last week, made the same point de Villiers is making, noting that footage of Labuschagne's early Test batting shows a player striking the ball with intent and crisp footwork who looks nothing like Smith.Last three years, only a handful of established, active batters have averaged less than Marnus Labuschagne. Early good luck has caught up with him, he can't play good lengths, and he's retreated into himself. Is there a way back? Full article here: https://t.co/6CzbgzvhHB https://t.co/wBGojOAIqP— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 26, 2026The recent figures leave little room for argument. Labuschagne has not scored a Test century since 2023, and during the recent South Africa tour, he made 37, 37, 14, 39, 0 and 4, falling to Simon Harmer at slip in the first innings at Newlands and lbw to Kagiso Rabada in the sixth ball of the chase.MORE: End of Marnus Labuschagne: Horror South Africa Test series might be the end of the rope for Aussie No.3 batterThe Cricket News Opinion: Labuschagne has two weeks to answer thisDe Villiers is probably right that this is mental rather than technical, and the evidence sits in the shape of the failures. Six innings, five starts of a kind, and a top score of 39 is not a player being found out by good bowling. It is a player who gets in and then doesn't know what to do next.Labuschagne was mimicking Smith while averaging 60, so the mannerisms alone cannot explain a collapse that began three years later. What changed is the intent behind them.Australia host New Zealand at Perth in a fortnight and Steve Smith is expected to be fit after the neck injury that ruled him out of Cape Town.Labuschagne has a Sheffield Shield fixture and a selection meeting between now and then, and on the evidence of the last three weeks, de Villiers' prediction looks the safer bet.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.