Marnus Labuschagne might still be the world’s No.1 Test batter, but he will be breathing a sigh of relief that he does not have to face Shaheen Shah Afridi for the immediate future.
The Pakistan left-armer dismissed the Australian for the fifth time in seven first-class innings on Friday.
Afridi trapped Labuschagne in front on 23 during their County match. It was the second time in the match the Middlesex bowler removed Labuschagne, after earlier bowling him with a ball which proved too tight to leave.
Visibly disappointed, Labuschagne hung his head back and remained at the crease well after the finger was raised.
His dissatisfaction once again raised eyebrows over the Australian’s on-field attitude, where he has been accused of descent on a number of occasions.
He was the second Australian to stare down an umpire on Friday, after David Warner lingered at the crease after edging the ball behind during Delhi’s narrow IPL loss to Rajasthan.
After a prolific season with Glamorgan in 2019 - the season which proved the catalyst for Labuschagne’s international return - the Australian has struggled to get going early in his return to the County club.
He made an unbeaten 50 in the second innings against Nottinghamshire, but started the season with a single digit score (3).
Labuschagne did have something to smile about during his contest with Afridi.
The batting all-rounder, who can bowl seam up and leg-spin, removed the Pakistan star with his wrist-spin as one of two wickets.
But Afridi’s 29 proved invaluable for Middlesex, as the visitors, who are captained by Peter Handscomb (0), managed to scramble their way to 336 after earlier slumping to 6-110.
Glamorgan are 6-104 and still trail by 110 runs, with Australian quick Michael Neser unbeaten on 22.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...e/news-story/45fb2fdf63928e75f8473244dd3122b1
