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[VIDEOS] Marnus Labuschagne - Performance Watch

I hope he travels to Pakistan it will proberly state how good his career will be.
 
Scores Since his number one ICC ranking....

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28
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44
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World No. 1 Test batter Marnus Labuschagne is "very excited" after Australia's first visit to Pakistan since 1998 received a final go ahead from Cricket Australia's board last week.

"I can't wait to get over there, see the conditions and try and find ways to score runs," Labuschagne told Sportstar.

Labuschagne made his Test debut in the United Arab Emirates in 2018 and played both Tests against Pakistan, showing promise with bat and ball and making a top score of 43 alongside picking seven wickets with his leg-spin.

In 2019, against the same opponent at home, Labuschagne racked up 347 runs in two Tests with twin hundreds. Labuschagne feels a familiarity with the Pakistan attack has provided him with some knowledge and know-how to score against them. "I played most of them in the UAE and also in Australia, so I've got a bit of an idea of how they bowl," he added.

The tour will mark Australia's first overseas Test since 2019. Pat Cummins' men are also due to tour Sri Lanka in the middle of 2022 and then India in early 2023.

"Playing away from home is something we haven't done since the 2019 Ashes in England. I don't have much subcontinent experience. So, I can do all the training in the world and simulate different training and match scenarios and practise against specialist spin on subcontinent-style pitches, but what you practise at home and what you get out there are bound to be different. I must remain flexible as a batter."

Labuschagne uses the infrared sauna ‘at least five times a week’, which he feels will help him prepare for the sub-continent weather conditions. "Not only do I enjoy doing it, but it will also help my body acclimatise to the humidity and heat. I have no issues with my physical fitness. For me, it's about staying mentally fresh and ready to go. Bat for long periods.

"It will be the first Test series there since South Africa's visit in early 2021. The first time for Australia in 24 years. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly, and we get out there and play some awesome cricket and bring [international] cricket back to Pakistan, which I am sure the people over there will enjoy."

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...rs-subcontinent-conditons/article38390957.ece
 
Renowned for doing things differently, run-machine Marnus Labuschagne has revealed his quirky special home-training methods to counter spin on the sub-continent.

Ahead of next month's historic tour of Pakistan, the world's No.1 Test batter posted a video to Twitter on Thursday showcasing his preparation for combating the turning ball.

The 27-year-old explained how batting on his patio using a rubber mat smattered with sheets of taped-down aluminium and metal as the pitch, is helping sharpen his skills for the challenge ahead.

"In the sub-continent one of the big factors that everyone sees is the ball spinning big and then also sliding on big," said Labuschagne, who boasts a Test average of 56.92 after 23 matches.

"You always see the replays of all the straight balls getting wickets, but people don't watch the balls in between that are spinning big.

"The idea is the ball will skid on if it hits the metal fabric or the tape side. And then if it hits in between in the rubber, it's going to spin.

"From a batter's perspective, I'm trying to set up here and work on how I'm going to play in these conditions - play for the inside for the slide, picking up the length, looking for balls to score off."

Australia will rely on the No.3 batter to continue to score heavily when they face Pakistan in a three-Test series starting on March 4.

The tour, which will also include a three-game ODI series and a lone T20, will mark Australia's first trip to Pakistan since 1998.

Renowned for his insatiable cricketing appetite, Labuschagne has previously spoken of playing intense garage games with his mates, also training there during lockdown in 2020.

He was Australia's second-highest run-getter (335 at 41.87) in the recent 4-0 Ashes triumph, peeling off his sixth Test century in Adelaide.

The Queenslander's eccentric leaves, booming calls of "no run" and amusing self-commentary while at the crease enhanced his reputation for being unashamedly unique.

https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/crafty-marnus-home-training-for-pakistan-c-5734258
 
He’s a terrific player but also a big dramaybaaz. He is a huge Smith wannabe and all the theatrical leaves, the attention-grabbing gimmicks on social media like above etc. are carefully planned to build his image and position himself as the next Smith.

Smith is naturally eccentric but he is a total fake. However, to his credit, he is also doing the talking with the bat.

He is by far the best young Test batsman in the world. Babar has nothing on him in this format.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
This guy is like Steve Smith lite...
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credit goes to the aussie staff member who created this for marcus, marcus didnt create this - even though he did mntioon in the video he did ( we all know someone from the aussie staff made this for him) and they do this for other players.

plyers just obviously take all the credit
 
finalfantasy7 said:
credit goes to the aussie staff member who created this for marcus, marcus didnt create this - even though he did mntioon in the video he did ( we all know someone from the aussie staff made this for him) and they do this for other players.

plyers just obviously take all the credit
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I don't know how much this will actually help in tackling spin lol. Its not even a real cricket ball. And if anything, Pakistan is known more for being more productive to fast-bowlers than spinners. So that spin challenge might be overstated to begin with.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I don't know how much this will actually help in tackling spin lol. Its not even a real cricket ball. And if anything, Pakistan is known more for being more productive to fast-bowlers than spinners. So that spin challenge might be overstated to begin with.
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ur correct, but today cricketers just put anything up on these social media platforms =to make them look smart for the younger generation + plus money
 
Mamoon said:
He’s a terrific player but also a big dramaybaaz. He is a huge Smith wannabe and all the theatrical leaves, the attention-grabbing gimmicks on social media like above etc. are carefully planned to build his image and position himself as the next Smith.

Smith is naturally eccentric but he is a total fake. However, to his credit, he is also doing the talking with the bat.

He is by far the best young Test batsman in the world. Babar has nothing on him in this format.
Click to expand...

Yes he is extremely annoying, I don't like watching him at all simply because he acts like a little nerdy kid who tries to be Steve Smith all the time
 
Mamoon said:
He’s a terrific player but also a big dramaybaaz. He is a huge Smith wannabe and all the theatrical leaves, the attention-grabbing gimmicks on social media like above etc. are carefully planned to build his image and position himself as the next Smith.

Smith is naturally eccentric but he is a total fake. However, to his credit, he is also doing the talking with the bat.

He is by far the best young Test batsman in the world. Babar has nothing on him in this format.
Click to expand...

Quite astounding how your standards for greatness change based on a player's nationality.

He has done incredibly well but to say he is the best young test batsman in the world is quite a hyperbole considering he has barely played any tests outside Australia.
 
They are the extreme preparation measures that would have Matthew Hayden smiling.

Marnus Labuschagne has tapped aluminium plates to a Bunnings rubber mat on his back balcony to try and prepare for the conditions he will face in Pakistan next month.

Two decades earlier, Hayden’s breakthrough series as an international cricketer came as he spent weeks sweeping and getting to the pitch of the ball on dry wickets to replicate what was ahead of him.

His unusual methods came after he visited India in 1995-96, where he visited a spin bowling camp under Bishen Singh Bedi and S Venkatraghavan, which helped him understand the craft and how to attack it.

As his Australian teammates struggled, Hayden excelled.

He finished the epic 2-1 series with 549 runs and an average of 109.45. No other Australia averaged more than 50, while Ricky Ponting averaged 3.40.

Watch every match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup LIVE & FREE on Kayo Freebies. Join free now and start streaming instantly.

Labuschagne has taken a leaf out of Hayden’s book.

The world’s No.1 Test batsman, who has not played an overseas Test since his own breakthrough tour against England in 2019, posted footage on Instagram late last week and explained why he turned his balcony into a substitute cricket pitch.

Interestingly, the 27-year-old, who averages 56.92 in Test cricket since debuting against Pakistan in the UAE in 2018, revealed that he used a similar method before a stint in County Cricket – the tournament that catapulted him into the Ashes.

“I spent a little bit of time on it,” Labuschagne told reporters in Brisbane, as he prepares to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday ahead of a four-day quarantine period before flying to Pakistan.

“It’s something I always think of.

“I did something similar with that same mat before I went to England in 2019.

“I tried to create a wicket and a ball that nipped around a lot but didn’t bounce, because one of the big factors when you go to England is it nips and swings and it seams but the ball sort of hits the stumps from a shorter length.

“So a little bit of a similar thing going to Pakistan, I thought, well what’s the best way I can recreate spin, but not just consistent spin, because I think that’s quite easy to create, you get a mat or something, but the inconsistency so some spin, some slide, and you can’t really predict what it’s doing so you have to come up with a plan and a method.

“That was the thought behind it.

“And it’s always fun.

“You get a few of the boys around and you play a bit in the backyard, so it’s enjoyable and training.”

The tour of Pakistan, which starts on March 4, is Australia’s first tour to the region since 1998.

Few international teams have played there over the past two decades because of security concerns.

But the historic series was confirmed last month and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo.

As such, there’s an element of the unknown about what Australia is stepping into.

Although the subcontinent has increasingly become known for its dust bowls, Pakistan’s strong bowling attack and its history of producing world class fast bowlers has many thinking the wickets will be good for Test cricket.

Either way though, Labuschagne is undeterred, pointing to his home Gabba wicket as practice should it bounce.

“If the wicket’s what I’ve heard, they’ve got a good pace attack and they’ve got some pace in their wickets,” he said.

“Well, we’ve had plenty of practice on fast, bouncy wickets at the Gabba., so I think we’ve got that covered.

“The one aspect we don’t have is spin.

“We don’t necessarily have too many wickets around the country that spin.”

Australia has picked three specialist spinners in their squad, with Ashton Agar and uncapped Mitch Swepson joining Nathan Lyon.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...h/news-story/ef4631d486617badfd04933ba6b1c33c
 
Marnus Labuschagne: The spy who came in from the bowled

Rawalpindi: Some football coaches would be on the verge of a heart attack if they knew members of the opposition team were spying on their training sessions in the lead-up to an important game.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika would have people patrolling the outskirts of training grounds in foreign countries to ward off unwanted visitors attempting to film the team’s plays. Some would even try to sell the footage to rivals.

But out in the middle of Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, here was Marnus Labuschagne, Mr Cricket 2.0, pausing during training to focus on Pakistan’s bowlers, about 50 metres away.

Australia and Pakistan have had their training sessions scheduled at the same time in the lead-up to Friday’s first Test, more for security reasons than anything else. There is no point using double the number of police convoys.

Two practice wickets are available for each team on the square boundaries, while the fast bowlers have been getting into their work pitches either side of the Test strip, which already looks a bat-first pitch.

“Both teams would be silly to not use that opportunity,” Labuschagne said of watching the Pakistan pace attack go through its paces.

“I think both teams will be enjoying that you can have a look at their batters and bowlers. You’re side on, but it’s nice to look over and look at the opposition and see what they’re training. It gives you an insight too of what they think is coming at them.

“You pretty much get to have a look over and get the live feel and see their actions and see what they bowl.”

Labuschagne’s first observation was that Shaheen Afridi is bowling plenty of overs. Not unsurprising, but they have been sharp and eye-catching.

The two-metre fast bowler will spearhead Pakistan’s attack and there is no shortage of hype around the 21-year-old, who played two Tests against Australia in 2019.

“They’ve built their team really around him in the last few years and he’s their strike weapon,” Labuschagne said. “So he’s one that we’ve got to make sure we are really on top of.”

Luckily for Labuschagne, he didn’t venture too close to Haris Rauf. The paceman, known to Australians more for his Big Bash stint with the Melbourne Stars, has been ruled out of the first Test due to COVID-19. All other Pakistan players have so far tested negative.

Should COVID-19 derail this series, after Australia’s 24-year absence from cricketing contests on Pakistan soil, it would be the cruellest of blows to the locals, particularly after New Zealand’s abrupt exit on the morning of their first match in September last year.

Labuschagne is still the No.1-ranked Test batter in the world despite scores of 1, 28, 29, 44 and 5 since going to the top of the list. He is meticulous with his preparation at the best of times, but for a series of this significance, multiply that by plenty.

The 27-year-old spent time in Sydney recently working with batting coach Neil D’Costa, the man who nurtured Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes during their careers.

“We talked a bit on the tactical side … just understanding the tempo of the game,” Labuschagne said. “Making sure you know when to lay low and knowing when to come out and press a little bit more.”

There has been video homework, too, with Labuschagne analysing England’s Tests in Pakistan in 2000, as well as India’s tour here in 2004.

“I’ve been watching a couple of old games,” Labuschagne said. “It was just to get a feel of the wicket and what the scores were then. I know we’re talking a long time ago, but it was enjoyable to watch some of the great players I watched growing up.

“Mohammed Yousuf was a beautiful player, [so too] Younis Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq,” Labuschagne said. “India had the likes of Laxman and Sehwag opening, [plus] Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly. It was nice to watch some of the guys go about playing on these flatter spinning wickets.

“It’s enjoyable because I love cricket and love watching the game. I’ve got some great people here. Obviously Steve [Smith] has had a lot of experience in the subcontinent, so is someone I can learn off.

“Understanding my own batting is the key ... and understanding how I am going to tackle playing in these conditions and what I am going to do.”

Early pitch reports suggest Labuschagne and his mates will be in batting heaven.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-came-in-from-the-bowled-20220302-p5a12c.html
 
Australian star Marnus Labuschagne embarks on the tour that could define his career

Marnus Labuschagne mentions tempo several times as he sits in his hotel room in Islamabad.

While there is much interest in the Rawalpindi pitch and the bounce, turn and pace - or lack thereof - that will shape events in the first Test, Labuschagne has been contemplating how mastering the rhythm of play may be key to his success in only his third Test series outside Australia.

“I definitely grew up as a more defensive sort of grinding type player that just hated getting out,” Labuschagne said.

“So even in that type of scenario, whatever the situation requires is sort of how I go about the game.

“I'd say if it's tough conditions, it's swinging, it's reversing and you have to dig in then that’s what we're trying to do.

“And if I feel like the conditions are that you've got to put pressure back on the balls and you get opportunities to score then we've got to take those as a team.

“But I think that there might be different tempos over here in the subcontinent, to what we've had this summer against England, where we played a lot of cricket in fast forward.”

The varying tempos of the subcontinent were very much a part of Labuschagne’s discussions with batting coach Neil D’Costa, who helped fine tune his batting preparations ahead of the tour.

“We touched back on on the basics of my batting trying to just work on a few technical elements that we felt like needed adjusting, worked on few shots that we felt like we needed to sharpen up on,” Labuschagne said.

“And then from there we talked a bit on the tactical side, understanding he's worked with a lot of players in the subcontinent coaching in India.

“And just understanding that tempo of the game was something that we spoke about as well, just making sure that you understand what the game requires for the certain situations, knowing when to lay low, knowing when to come out and press a little bit more and just understanding the pace of the game."

That pace will, of course, be largely dictated by the nature of the pitch, which remains something of a mystery to the Australians after scrutinising it on their arrival at Pindi.

The players are training in portable nets on the centre block and in the outfield but Labuschagne believes the lively condition of the practice pitches may be deceiving.

“We walked out there, there was there was very little grass on that wicket,” Labuschagne said.

“So, regardless of whatever the training wickets are, we need to make sure we're ready to adapt to the wicket that we're going to play on, which seems to be a little bit flatter, might go up and down later in the game.

“But once again, it's all a bit of an unknown, right? We haven't played a game here for 24 years, so I think we just have all the clubs in the bag and then understand which ones we need to use come the wickets and what the game situation requires us to use.”

One particular challenge comes in the formidable shape of Shaheen Shah Afridi, the left-arm leader of Pakistan’s pace attack.

With injuries to Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashram, and a positive COVID test for Haris Rauf, Afridi’s importance to the home side has intensified.

Labuschagne has strong recollections of losing his wicket to Afridi twice in two innings during Pakistan’s 2019 Australian tour and has watched his growth since that series.

“They've built their team really around him in the last few years,” Labuschagne said.

“And he's sort of their strike weapon, so he's one that we've got to make sure we were really on to.

“[He’s a] lovely, lovely bowler like he can shape it back, with a new ball he's shown skills, it looks like he's picked up a couple of yards since we played him last.

“And obviously like most of the players from Pakistan, when the ball does go reverse they seem to be very experienced even if they don't have heaps of Test matches under their belt.

“It seems something that's in the DNA about reverse swing bowling.

“A lot of their actions suit reverse swing bowling to get the ball to tail back quite sharply.”

In the absence of lived experience, Labuschagne, who is an indisputable cricket nuffy, has been watching old YouTube videos of England and India tours to Pakistan from the early 2000s.

“Just to get a feel of the wicket and what the scores were then,” Labuschagne said.

“I mean, we're talking a long time ago!

“But it's enjoyable to watch some of the old you know great players that I used to watch growing up. Muhammad Youssef is beautiful player, the likes of Younis Khan, Inzimam ul huq, those guys.

“Obviously for India the likes of Laxman opening with Sehwag and Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly.

“So it was nice to watch you know, some of those old guys go about how they go about playing on these flatter spinning wickets.

“Obviously, I've got some great people here. Steve [Smith] has obviously had a lot of experience in the subcontinent so I’m speaking to him about certain things he's gonna do that I can learn off and the likes of Diva [batting coach Michael Di Venuto] and Uzzy [Usman Khawaja] has also had plenty of subcontinent experience so, I'm learning off those guys.

“But then also just understanding my own batting I think is probably the key, understanding my strengths, understanding how I'm going to tackle playing in these conditions and what I'm going to do so you learn from the others, but then you have to put into your own game."

It seems odd that Labuschagne’s rise in the world’s Test batting rankings has involved so few matches away from home.

His Test debut came against Pakistan in the UAE ahead of his 2019 Ashes call up in England but it is this series and the ones to follow in Sri Lanka and India that may go a long way towards defining his career.

“Although I haven't had the experience, I’ve certainly given it a lot of thought and I've got experienced people around me to assist,” Labuschagne said.

“For me, it's just about accelerating that learning and being able to learn as quick as possible.

“I'm really excited for the challenge of being able to play in an away from home series and get into the contest and be able to try and show what I can do in in these conditions.

“But like I said, everyone judges the players' careers on how they go away from home, so I'd better do well.”

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/cri...ld-define-his-career/uiyb3txhxzozqsykyn6ls5bm
 
A day after the great legspinner's death, Marnus Labuschagne was still trying to be like Shane Warne on the cricket field.

Ambling in a little quicker than Warne, but hoping to rip the ball as hard as possible in a bid to beat the bat and showing every exaggerated emotion as he did it.

"I felt a little bit special, being able to bowl leggies out there," Labuschagne said after day two in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Just once, the world's top-ranked bat and part-time bowler felt the connection with Warne as one dipped and gripped just enough to excite the senses.

And in doing so, he made the comparison that every Australian who's tried the art of leg spin in the past three decades has made.

"I actually said to Smudge (Steve Smith), 'that's Warne-like' when one spun real big," smiled Labuschagne, who took 1-53 before Pakistan declared at 4-476.

"Obviously there was nowhere near as much turn (compared to Warne).

"But I turned a few which gave me a little bit excitement."

Some 13,000 kilometres away in New Zealand it was the same story, where Alana King helped bowl Australia to victory in their World Cup opener against England.

One ball in particular caught the attention of the masses. It drifted, dipped, beat the bat of an England opener and the stumping was completed by a Healy in Alyssa.

And in a clear sign that Warne was on both Australian teams' minds, King quickly pounded the black armband on her left arm as a tribute to the late spinner.

Australia's women had woken to the shock news of Warne's death just hours before their game was meant to begin.

In Pakistan, the news was broken to Australian players on the way back to their hotel on Friday night after play.

By Saturday morning, when they took to the field, it was clear some were still struggling to come to terms with the loss of both Warne and Rod Marsh in a 24-hour period.

"It's certainly a touching one for everyone," Labuschagne said.

"Not just in the team but around the country, everywhere.

"Everyone deals with it in different ways. Some people like to be alone to think about those sort of things.

"Some people like to talk about it and be able to hash it out and talking about his great memories."

"I don't think it's going to really sink in yet until a couple of days at least."

Meanwhile, in Thailand Warne's body is due to be taken to the mainland on Sunday ahead of an autopsy.

A Thai police official told reporters that Warne had experienced chest pains prior to his death and he had a medical history of asthma and some heart issues.

Warne died in his hotel room on Friday on the island of Koh Samui of a suspected heart attack aged 52, with attempts to revive him unsuccessful.

https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/labuschagne-has-warne-on-mind-with-leggies-c-5946999
 
Getting some advice from the maestro

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Very popular

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Australian star batter Marnus Labuschagne, during the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) 39th podcast, said that the series against Pakistan was an ‘eye-opening’ experience.

He further added that the performance of the Green Shirts exceeded his expectations.

“It’s been really an eye-opening experience as well, to what Pakistan’s like, obviously when you haven’t been to a country, there’s a lot of speculation. You obviously paint a picture in your mind but, the country itself has far exceeded my expectations in terms of the picture and what the people are about,” Marnus said.

The top-ranked test batter added that he enjoyed his time in Pakistan on the field and off the field. He also said that the series was a mixture of both toughness and friendliness.

“Cricket on the field has been really hard and competitive. But there’s been such great times and I’ve had a really good time with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, even Abdullah Shafique and Imam-Ul-Haq when they’re batting.

“It’s been really exciting and enjoyable that you can play a series where it’s competitive, but also friendly. Off the field, you can have a laugh about things that have happened and stuff like that,” the 27-year-old added.

From PCB podcast
 
Marnus Labuschagne can really do it all.

The Australian Test No. 3 is best known for his ability with the bat but he has proven he has plenty of skill with the ball in hand as well.

After returning from the Test series against Pakistan, Labuschagne has continued to ply his trade in England’s County Championship, where he has played for Glamorgan for several seasons.

And cricket fans were amused when he rolled the arm over with some medium pace bowling during Glamorgan’s clash with Nottinghamshire this week.

Labuschagne is a capable part-time leg-spinner and has taken 13 wickets for Australia so far in his Test career.

So it was surprising when he took two wickets bowling seam up medium pace.

Labuschagne first caught the outside edge of Tom Moores, who edged through to the wicketkeeper.

He then took a straightforward catch to dismiss centurion Ben Duckett caught and bowled for 122.

Labuschagne celebrated both wickets relatively tamely by his standards and he finished with excellent figures of 2/11 off his five overs.

He even had the audacity to bowl a bouncer to former Australian paceman James Pattinson, but it sailed over his head and down to the boundary rope for four.

Glamorgan bowled Nottinghamshire out for 302 on the first day of the match.

Labuschagne hasn’t been afraid to roll out his medium pace trundlers in the Sheffield Shield, but Australian captains and coaches have been very reluctant to let him bowl seam up during Test matches.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...s/news-story/cf36870423c929d0c685b606a396aa2e

https://twitter.com/x/status/1514647251666223107

https://twitter.com/x/status/1514829951899365377
 
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That's Marnus Labuschagne's half-century!

It's his 14th in Tests and it comes off 84 balls #SLvAUS
 
Test ton No.7 for Marnus Labuschagne and his first outside Australia!

Well played #SLvAUS
 
Marnus Labuschagne (@CricketAus) has scored his seventh Test hundred today; only Joe Root (14) has more centuries in the men's format since Labuschagne made his debut in October 2018. Resolute.
 
A very consistent contributor. Has made a hugely significant difference to the Australian top order since his debut.
 
'You were in your nappies. Show respect': Twitter blasts Marnus Labuschagne for his reply to Sachin Tendulkar

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is facing the wrath of fans on social media after replying to a tweet from Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

tendulkar-labuschagne-getty_1659146867541_1659146873312_1659146873312.jpg


Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is facing the wrath of fans on social media after replying to a tweet from Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar, the former India batter posted a good luck wish for the Indian women's cricket team good luck for their match against Australia as the sports made a return to CWG after 24 years – the last time cricket was part of CWG was way back in 1998. "Wonderful to see cricket back in the Commonwealth Games. Hope this takes our beautiful game to newer audiences. Best wishes to [MENTION=14959]bcci[/MENTION]Women's team for their #CWG22 campaign," Tendulkar had tweeted.

Reacting to the tweet, Labuschagne replied saying "Agreed Sachin. Aus v India is going to be an amazing opener too." And this landed him in hot waters. Fans felt that by addressing Tendulkar as just "Sachin", Labuschagne was not showing respect to the Indian batting legend. Users were quick to pounce on Labuschagne and slammed the Australia batter for not calling him "Sachin sir".

https://twitter.com/x/status/1552921149792669697

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...sachin-tendulkar-s-tweet-101659146334271.html

Some indians fans are overreacting as always. :facepalm :inti
 
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Fans felt that by addressing Tendulkar as just "Sachin", Labuschagne was not showing respect to the Indian batting legend. Users were quick to pounce on Labuschagne and slammed the Australia batter for not calling him "Sachin sir".
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How acutely and pathetically embarrassing is this!
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
'You were in your nappies. Show respect': Twitter blasts Marnus Labuschagne for his reply to Sachin Tendulkar

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is facing the wrath of fans on social media after replying to a tweet from Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

tendulkar-labuschagne-getty_1659146867541_1659146873312_1659146873312.jpg


Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is facing the wrath of fans on social media after replying to a tweet from Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar, the former India batter posted a good luck wish for the Indian women's cricket team good luck for their match against Australia as the sports made a return to CWG after 24 years – the last time cricket was part of CWG was way back in 1998. "Wonderful to see cricket back in the Commonwealth Games. Hope this takes our beautiful game to newer audiences. Best wishes to [MENTION=14959]bcci[/MENTION]Women's team for their #CWG22 campaign," Tendulkar had tweeted.

Reacting to the tweet, Labuschagne replied saying "Agreed Sachin. Aus v India is going to be an amazing opener too." And this landed him in hot waters. Fans felt that by addressing Tendulkar as just "Sachin", Labuschagne was not showing respect to the Indian batting legend. Users were quick to pounce on Labuschagne and slammed the Australia batter for not calling him "Sachin sir".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wonderful to see cricket back in the Commonwealth Games. <br>Hope this takes our beautiful game to newer audiences. Best wishes to <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIWomen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" [MENTION=14959]bcci[/MENTION]Women</a>’s team for their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWG22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWG22</a> campaign.</p>— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1552921149792669697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...sachin-tendulkar-s-tweet-101659146334271.html

Some indians fans are overreacting as always. :facepalm :inti
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Indians love worshipping their superstars.
 
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Marnus Labuschagne believes he is swimming against the tide in setting his sights on becoming a three-format player for Australia.

A Test superstar who appears on the verge of becoming a key middle-order figure for the ODI side, Labuschagne has played just one T20I – debuting against Pakistan in April – and just 32 matches in the shortest format overall.

The 28-year-old today re-signed with Brisbane Heat on a one-year deal and looks well placed to appear in potentially six matches – as many as he has played in any previous BBL season.

Labuschagne's best T20 campaign came last year with Glamorgan in the UK's T20 Blast, during which he averaged 55 while striking at 140 across eight matches, and collecting nine wickets.

"I always want to play for Australia as much as I can," he said today. "It's just about taking opportunities. Playing for Australia will come if I continue to perform … with the Brisbane Heat and with Glamorgan in the T20 Blast.

"I've just got to keep growing and learning my game. That's what it's all about. The selection stuff is out of my control, it's just got to happen naturally as I perform in T20 cricket."

Labuschagne has long been backed to become an all-format player – both David Warner and Darren Lehmann forecast that as his path in 2019 – but the man himself believes such a status will become increasingly rare given the hectic nature of the international and domestic cricket calendar, which he says will further the likelihood of players specialising.

"A lot of talk's been about the schedule being so full," he said. "I think we'll just see less and less three-format players.

"I don't think there'll be that many of them because the T20 game is just skyrocketing – there's so many competitions now, there's guys that are playing so much cricket.

"The gap between long-format cricket and short-format cricket is just going to get bigger and bigger."

Labuschagne's return to the Heat is another boost for the Big Bash as it looks to compete in a growing marketplace, with the right-hander describing the arrival of more domestic leagues through the southern hemisphere as presenting the Australian tournament with "an ongoing challenge".

"We've got two (other) competitions in our window now with the South African league and the UAE league … which is important, because I think we need to make sure our product is the best, so we do get the best players coming in and playing in our competition," he said.

"If we can have that, there should be no issue. Hopefully this year is a big steppingstone towards getting our competition back to its absolute best."

On a day where Test batter Travis Head also recommitted to Adelaide Strikers via a two-year contract extension, Labuschagne said more Australia players (whose calendars have been briefly cleared due to South Africa's withdrawal from a slated ODI series in January) would add significantly to the BBL, however their respective decisions to play would be contingent on a number of factors.

"We're available to play, but everyone's different," he added. "You've got people with young families, you've got people with really high workloads who are playing three formats all the time.

"So it's hard to expect those guys to always be available. Hopefully we get a lot of those Test guys playing because it's great for the competition, but everyone's got to make their own decision."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mar...ddle-order-heat-brisbane-australia/2022-08-18
 
Goat level player at home. A run machine.

His record drops off a fair bit away from home, however. Some improvements to make here.
 
He's averaging around 80 at home now. Incredible batsman on Australian pitches.
 
He is a phenomenal Test batsman. Only Steve Smith, Joe Root & Virat Kohli are better than him among active Test batsmen.

He has all the talent, skill & temperament to go down as one of the top 5 greatest Test batsmen produced by Australia.
 
Marnus Labuschagne lived the first decade of his life in South Africa, but Australia's most in-form batter is expecting few favours when he takes on his native country for the first time in Test cricket this week.

Labuschagne heads into his home Test in Brisbane, where he has lived since his Afrikaans-speaking family emigrated to Queensland when he was 10, in dominant touch having carted West Indies for 502 runs in the first two NRMA Insurance Tests of the summer.

A far sterner examination from the Proteas awaits in what the 28-year-old admits will be a special moment when he faces the team he could easily have played for had life panned out differently.

Labuschagne still has many relatives in South Africa; around 50 of them were on hand to witness his maiden one-day international century in 2020 in Potchefstroom, less than hour from his birthplace of Klerksdorp.

"Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Greame Smith, AB de Villiers – as a young kid growing up in South Africa, you look up to these guys," the Queenslander told reporters on Wednesday.

"Then coming to Australia, and really diving into the Australian culture, looking up to the likes of Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey Michael Clarke – I remember getting a V900 (bat) because Michael Clarke had a V900.

"As your career evolves you just grow and grow to liking to different players, it doesn't matter the country."

While Labuschagne is prepared to cop the odd sledge in Afrikaans, he insists there will be no split allegiances when his parents, wife and recently-born daughter watch on at the Gabba this week.

"My family have adopted Australia as their home and they support me, they support the Australian cricket team," he said.

"But I certainly think it's exciting what this Test holds because it is a little bit closer to my heart because it's the country where I grew up and where I spent 10 years of my life."

South Africa's pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, two of the game's fastest bowlers, are certain to put Labuschagne's technique under far more scrutiny than it has so far this Test summer.

The right-hander was already preparing for their extra velocity even before the Windies series had finished, having a net session before play on the final day of the Test in Adelaide where he stood out of his crease facing throwdowns in a bid to speed up his reflexes.

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Labuschagne doubles up against Windies with Test 200
"I certainly was doing a few more short balls," he said of the extra training he did with batting coach Michael di Venuto.

"We were working on a few technical things with 'Diva' just on getting my weight distribution right and being able to get back on the ball and actually swivel on that back hip.

"We certainly were looking forward and preparing for what was to come."

The most pressure Labuschagne got put under against the Windies came when speedster Alzarri Joseph peppered him with a series of hostile short balls in Perth, but a follow-up forecast by their bowling coach for the ensuing match never materialised.

Mark Wood had some success with the tactic during last summer’s Ashes, dismissing Labuschagne three times in a row and forcing him into a mid-series technique change.

Labuschagne's record at the Gabba – he averages 94.60 in four Tests there, having notched tons in 2019-20 against Pakistan and India in 2020-21 – combined with his imposing recent form may encourage the Proteas to adopt the same tactics early in the series.

But Labuschagne suggests that is hardly unexpected.

"We always talk about attacking people in different ways. But the reality of cricket is there's not many other options you go to apart from; attack the stumps early, you hang it wide, you bowl straight or you fall short," he said.

"They're your options, and you just mix through those with different bowlers.

"I'm assuming that, with their pace attack, the percentage play is there and they will absolutely go short at some stage.

"I'm certainly going to make sure that I'm prepared for anything they're going to throw at me."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mar...bba-split-allegiances-proteas-home/2022-12-14
 
Australia star and No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne has issued a warning to India ahead of next month's ICC World Test Championship final with a brilliant century in England's County Championship on Saturday.

Labuschagne hit 170* from just 207 deliveries in Glamorgan's second innings of their Division 2 clash against Yorkshire at Headingly and the right-hander immediately declared it was the best he had felt at the crease for some time.

The 28-year-old managed to reach 50 just once during the four-match Border-Gavaskar series against India earlier this year and had failed to score a century in any format since he smashed a superb 163 against the West Indies in Adelaide in December.

But that all changed just one month out from the start of the World Test Championship final, as Labuschagne found the middle of the bat with ease and scored freely when hitting 24 boundaries and one massive six against a Yorkshire attack the included England Test spinner Dom Bess and fellow Australian Mickey Edwards.

It was a welcome return to form for Labuschagne - who had managed scores of just 17, 5, 64 and 65 in four County knocks prior - and the Australian admitted he was relieved to finally reach three figures.

“I have been a bit sort of all over,” Labuschagne told reporters at the end of the day's play.

“It hasn’t felt like it has come together until that innings. I hit a few nice straight drives, a couple of nice cover drives and a nice flick through mid-wicket. That’s probably the most I’ve felt balanced at the crease, I felt like my head position was in a nice spot, my bat path was coming down nicely.

“For me it is taking it game by game and trying to build up that momentum that leads into the World Test Championship and the Ashes."

Persistent rain in Leeds saw the third day of the match called to a halt early, with Glamorgan declaring their second innings at 352/4d on the back of Labuschagne's strong hand and a valuable 68 from experienced right-hander Sam Northeast.

Northeast was at the non-striker’s end for much of Labuschagne's tremendous innings and was suitably impressed with what he saw.

"He (Labuschagne) was almost ridiculous at times," Northeast told BBC Sport Wales.

"When he came out after tea and said he wanted to put his foot down, he did exactly that.

"He played some special shots.

"Unfortunately for England fans, he looks like he's in pretty good touch."

Glamorgan head into the final day with a massive lead of 491 runs and require 10 Yorkshire wickets to clinch the victory.

ICC
 
Australia star and No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne knows the pressure is on him to perform in next week's ICC World Test Championship Final against India at The Oval.

Labuschagne enters the one-off clash 32 points ahead at the top of the ICC MRF Tyres Batting Rankings and will be keen to add to his already impressive resume by leading Australia to a first World Championship title in south London.

The Australia No.3 managed only one half-century during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India on the sub-continent and is aiming to produce a better performance this time around.

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne on how he is preparing for the ICC World Test Championship Final and the Ashes
"Naturally, anyone that is batting No.3 for Australia is going to have responsibility,” Labuschagne said.

“Even in 2019 (last time in England for Ashes) it was my responsibility, it was my job to score runs and if I didn’t score runs they would find someone else to do my job and I don’t think that changes.

“It is about finding ways to score runs and contribute to the side in as many games as I can.”

While many of his teammates remained in Asia to play in the Indian Premier League, Labuschagne has been in Europe for the last two months and acclimatising for the World Test Championship Final and upcoming Ashes series with a stint at English County side Glamorgan.

Labuschagne looked in great touch when scoring two centuries and a total of 504 runs from eight innings with the Welsh County side and is confident his time with Glamorgan will help him find his best form over the coming months.

"I have been coming back for five years now,” Labuschagne said.

"It is just part of my normal routine of coming here.

"I love coming here, I love playing County cricket, I love the team at Glamorgan, I enjoy it so much otherwise I wouldn’t be coming back.

"It just helps that this year is a Test Championship Final and Ashes year so it is very helpful for leading into the series."

And while it was India's plethora of quality spinners that proved the difference during the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Labuschagne believes it may be their underrated pace attack that causes him the most problems this time around.

Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj form a formidable pace duo for India, while Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat are also in contention to play at The Oval alongside recalled all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

"Two months ago we played against India, so in terms of seeing them and knowing their actions and what they do we are pretty clear on that,” Labuschagne said.

“With the Dukes ball in their hand they are going to be able to showcase their skills a lot more.”

ICC
 
MenInG said:
So Labuschagne was asleep when Warner's wicket fell....

https://imgur.com/9j0N7Aq
Click to expand...

Top-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne has revealed why he took a brief nap during Australia's second innings of the ICC World Test Championship Final when he dozed off even while teammates faced a bowling barrage at The Oval.

Labuschagne decided to sit back and take a nap as teammates David Warner and Usman Khawaja looked to build on Australia's lead, though the No.3 batter was rudely awoken and called out to the middle when Mohammed Siraj struck.

“I was just resting my eyes between balls and just relaxing,” Labuschagne told SEN Cricket after the day's play.

“I was trying to calm my nerves a little bit, you can’t watch the game all the time, I got up there and was awake pretty soon.

“I didn’t have too many rests there when Siraj banged that first one in.”

As Labuschagne took guard to begin his innings, commentators on hand were chuckling after the vision was beamed around the world.

“Marnus Labuschagne at No.3, that is one of the more extraordinary arrivals to the crease that you will see," Harsha Bhogle said.

"Are you awake, Marnus? Have you brushed your teeth? Have you had a coffee?”

India's fans were Labuschagne's wake-up call, according to fellow commentator, ex-Australia batter and coach, Justin Langer.

“The appeal of the crowd, there’s the alarm! Oh, I’m up and going. I will brush my teeth, a quick espresso coffee to get me going and now he’s got to face his first ball.”

Labuschagne had to be wide awake and laser-sharp in his focus with Siraj continuing on his bowling tirade.

The batter was struck multiple times on the gloves, before reaching 41* at the close of play and helping Australia to a strong position ahead of day four.

Australia will resume at 123/4 with a lead of 296 runs, with Green 7* partnering Labuschagne as they look to build on their advantage with two days to play.

ICC
 
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Could he be England's tormentor in chief in Ashes 2023?

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Nasser Hussain in his column:

Labuschagne - New off-stump guard means he's pushing at balls he should leave

It was surprising to watch Marnus Labuschagne bat on off stump at Edgbaston, and I wonder if it was something that started during his time with Glamorgan.

Usually, he’d take a middle or middle-and-off-stump guard, but it’s possible he’s been trying to get outside the line of off stump on those slow, low wickets at Cardiff to lessen the chances of falling lbw. He did the same thing against India at the Oval during the World Test Championship final, so it’s an issue that has crept into his game — as it did with Ollie Pope two summers ago.

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ML on some sort of monster run-scoring streak in the series vs South Africa

80*
124
 
Incredible that he's not in Australia's World Cup squad yet.

They've got a lot of options but I'm sure he can't be too far from being called up.
 
considering the recent form of Marnus, he should have been included in worldcup squad.

He is a type of player who knows how to build an inning on asian tracks.
 
He might not be performing great in batting but his fielding in the last few overs today against New Zealand really helped his team to win the match.
 
So Australia is trusting their WC chase with Manus Labuschagne (A South African born)...What could go wrong?
 
This guy was not supposed to play this tournament. Each time when he got a chance he took it and did wonders.
 
Despite suffering a nasty blow to the hand in Perth, Marnus Labuschagne says he is "definitely" right to play the biggest Test on the Australian calendar

Marnus Labuschagne has declared himself fit and available for the Boxing Day Test despite suffering a painful blow to his right hand while batting in Australia's thumping win over Pakistan in Perth.

Labuschagne, who has played 39 consecutive Tests since being recalled to the line-up as a concussion substitute during the 2019 Ashes tour, underwent scans after being struck on the little finger by a fierce lifting delivery from debutant seamer Khurram Shahzad on Saturday evening.

The 29-year-old received attention from Australia team medical staff on the field, and was sent for x-rays after being dismissed for two not long after suffering the hit.

While the scan revealed no visible fracture, Labuschagne admitted he felt some discomfort when batting against express quick Lance Morris in the Perth Stadium nets prior to play resuming yesterday.

But he claimed he was "definitely" right to play in the second NRMA Insurance Test in eight days' time.

The prolific right-hander said he was initially fearful he had sustained structural damage to the hand, but did not immediately believe it was similar to the hand injury copped by teammate Travis Head which sidelined the World Cup hero for more than a month.

"It hit me more on the knuckle side and jammed up my hand, so I was a bit nervous out there," Labuschagne told reporters in Perth.

"I've had a lot of finger blows but this felt a bit different.

"Overnight it was a little bit sore but (Sunday) morning was fine, I had a hit and it was all right."

"I wasn't necessarily thinking about Trav's finger hit, but it just got me in a bit of an awkward spot.

"There was no padding on that side of the glove, and it got me sort of underneath and jammed it so it didn’t feel that good.

"But I've actually got some really good range in it, so all good."

Labuschagne said the decision to pit himself against 'Wild Thing' Morris, who earlier today was released from Australia's squad for the upcoming MCG fixture, was not specifically to gauge how his sore hand would hold up against genuine pace bowling.

Rather, it presented an opportunity for the obsessive trainer to gain some further batting time in Test-standard-conditions having spent barely an hour in the middle at Perth Stadium where he recorded scores of 16 (off 25 balls) and two (off 18).

While he is expecting vastly different conditions at the MCG to the bouncy Perth track that became increasingly difficult for batting as cracks widened and shifted on day four, Labuschagne does not believe he'll need to alter much in his batting approach to counter Pakistan's quicks on Boxing Day.

"The wickets are really nice out there (Perth Stadium nets), we had the new wickets come in and then facing good bowlers on true wickets is good for skill, good for batting," he said.

"I batted for an hour and faced three bowlers.

"I'll probably have a couple of days off, and have a few sessions back in Brisbane and then join the squad on the 23rd or 24th and commence our prep from there.

"The MCG wicket has changed so much over the last four years.

"It's become very much like the Adelaide wicket, a bit of seam, swing, quite a bit of grass.

"It will be a nice challenge I think, a bit of a different challenge to this (Perth) wicket which was more bounce whereas there will probably be a bit more seam."

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc likened the latest iteration of Perth's Test pitch to the fabled strips at the nearby WACA Ground, with his skipper Pat Cummins describing it as a "good wicket" even though it deteriorated more quickly than expected late in the game.

Batting was made difficult late on day three and more so on day four as seamers got the ball to lift alarmingly from the cracked surface, with statistics suggesting more batters were struck on the upper body (21 in total) than any previous Test at the still-new venue.

However, Labuschagne did not believe the pitch presented a danger even though Australia's quicks tore through Pakistan's top-order to seal their 360-run victory inside four days, with the tourists skittled for 89 in just 30.2 overs.

"It's always hard to judge when the wicket starts off good and then deteriorates," he said.

"Potentially if that's a day-one wicket there might be a few more questions asked, but I think that's what you get coming here.

"Usually the cracks aren't so loose, and you don't get the big discrepancy in bounce.

"Occasionally, one hits a crack but that usually goes way left or way and it's not even a concern.

"But it's when you get those cross-cracks and the ball hits on the low side, goes down and then hits up.

"So I don’t think it was reaching that (dangerous) stage, but was certainly one of those tough games that you get here at Perth."

The world's number five ranked Test batter prior to the first Test, Labuschagne claimed it was difficult to quantify where the Perth pitch rated on scales of most challenging surfaces he's encountered in his 44-Test career.

While he rated the pitch rolled out at Indore for Australia's third Test against India earlier this year, where the visitors claimed a nine-wicket win inside three days with 26 of the 31 wickets to fall to bowlers claimed by spinners, that was not the most problematic he's seen in the recent past.

That title was shared by The Oval in London which hosted last June's World Test Championship Final against India, and his home venue of the Gabba in Brisbane where the opening Test against South Africa last summer was completed in two days as pace bowlers from both sides wrought havoc.

"Our pitch in Indore, the ball was spinning six, seven degrees on day one so that's pretty difficult," Labuschagne said when asked to rank the toughest pitches he's encountered.

"In terms of up and down, the closest (comparison) was probably the Test Championship Final, that was pretty severe up and down but it sort of got better as the game went on I reckon.

"Here and at the WACA (Ground), with the hot weather and such a high clay content, the cracks start opening up and the cracks start moving a lot.

"And the Gabba wicket last year (against South Africa), that was pretty tough but that was obviously different.

"That was divots on the wicket which I would probably say is worse than cracks opening up."

www.cricket.com.au

Labuschagne fit for Boxing Day after injury scare | cricket.com.au

Despite suffering a nasty blow to the hand in Perth, Marnus Labuschagne says he is definitely…
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With the way we are spraying it around, let's see if we can exploit this weakness

YGf9Aii.png
 
A steady 50 by Marnus Labushagne, giving control to Australian Side.

He is playing on 55 (140)
 
In this year's Test cricket, Marnus Labuschagne has encountered a dip in form, recording an average of only 36. His recent performance against Pakistan in Perth resulted in scores of 16 and 2. However, he showcased resilience in Melbourne in 2nd Test against Pakistan, scoring a gritty 63 - his second-highest score this year.
 
Marnus goes to batting lab to recapture his edge

A converted warehouse in Melbourne's southeast, where Marnus Labuschagne had a seven-hour hit last year, is the unlikely location for groundbreaking bat-fitting technology

On the verge of joining an elite club of Australian cricketers, Marnus Labuschagne is using cutting-edge technology in his quest to recapture the touch that saw him crowned the world's best Test batter.

A converted warehouse in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs is the unlikely epicentre for bat fitting technology claimed to be a world first and which leading players like Marnus Labuschagne believe is long overdue.

The brainchild of Melbourne cricket coaches Shannon Young and Chris Hall, they have adapted a baseball metric called 'Balance Point Index' that allows players to optimise the weight and feel of their bats.

"The elevator pitch is we can now attach a value to the weight of a cricket bat," Young told cricket.com.au. "It's never been done before, we're the first people in the world who can do that."

After returning from last year's Ashes tour in which he used nine different bats, Labuschagne flew to Melbourne for a marathon seven-hour session at the Cricket Performance Lab fitting centre and indoor nets facility in Moorabbin.

"I just couldn't get that feel right," Labuschagne told cricket.com.au's Unplayable Podcast from Wellington ahead of the first Test against New Zealand.

"I batted with really light bats (during the Ashes) and I was getting really 'feely' for the ball, and kind of pushing at the ball a lot more than I'd done previously.

"I wanted to dive down and find out more about that and is there a reason that I'm making these errors now, compared to three or four years ago, where I felt like I was not."

Labuschagne, who will play his 50th Test in the NZ tour finale in Christchurch next month, followed up his long initial consultation with a return visit before last summer's Boxing Day Test.

His fitting proved a revelation after an Ashes campaign that saw him post a memorable century at Old Trafford but otherwise failed to pass fifty in all but one of his other nine innings.

"We would get him to hit balls, plug in the data with everything we capture, and when we explained to him why this bat performs this way, he was like 'yeah you're 100 per cent right – I've known this, but I've never had a way of objectively measuring it'," said Young, a close mentor of recent Australia debutant Jake Fraser-McGurk.

The BPI concept developed by Young, Richmond Tigers' head coach in Victorian Premier Cricket, and Hall, a computer scientist and former minor counties allrounder from the UK, has drawn other leading international players like Glenn Maxwell, Sophie Devine, Shan Masood and Marcus Stoinis to Moorabbin.

A lower BPI number suggests the player needs a bat with more weight closer to their hands, while a higher number calls for the weight to be distributed further down the bat.

Labuschagne used his BPI to help guide his bat-maker at Kookaburra in crafting the pieces of willow he took to South Africa for a one-day tour he had earnt a late call-up for in August.

Whether the fitting played a part in his unlikely return to the 50-over team that stormed to a fairytale World Cup triumph in India is difficult to quantify.

But Labuschagne is adamant it has been beneficial, explaining: "It just that it gives you a metric for what you feel as a batter with the pick-up of a bat.

"I always say the more information you get is always better for you. I'm sure that's not everyone's cup of tea. People would definitely say that you (can) overcomplicate it.

"The best way I can explain it is: you don't see any half-decent golfer playing with clubs that they didn't get fitted with – and that's most people's hobby.

"So if it's your job, and you can find a way to get better at your job by just making sure you're using the right equipment and the right bat for you, then why not? Why not find out more?"

Labuschagne hopes it can help arrest a slide in his Test runs output that, although not alarming, he admits has been short of the high standards he sets himself.

His sum of 226 runs at 28.25 in 10 innings over the recent home summer overlooks the fact he made three crucial half-centuries in difficult batting conditions in Melbourne and Sydney against Pakistan.

Scores of 10, 1no, 3 and 5 against West Indies capped a below-par season.

The lean patch stands in contrast to the exalted company he could join during the two-Test tour of NZ; only six Australians (Don Bradman, Steve Smith, Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Steve Waugh) have averaged more than 50 after 50 Tests.

After 48 matches, Labuschagne's batting average stands at 50.82.

The right-hander has never played in NZ but peeled off scores of 143, 50, 63, 19, 215 and 59 in three Tests against the Kiwis at home in his breakout 2019-20 campaign that propelled him to the top of the ICC's individual batting rankings.

"I was probably a little bit of an unknown – teams didn't really know much about me, they didn't really know the depths of my game," Labuschagne said of his golden summer.

"Compared to now where teams have seen me play for five, six years now, they know my strengths, they know my weaknesses.

"I think that's the challenge as a player, when teams start working out different ways to go about getting you out, you've got to continue to grow and get better."


www.cricket.com.au

Marnus goes to batting lab to recapture his edge | cricket.com.au

A converted warehouse in Melbourne's southeast, where Marnus Labuschagne had a seven-hour hit last…
www.cricket.com.au www.cricket.com.au
 
He has become a fielding specialist. May be a case of batsman punching above the weight. Still creditable achievement. There must be a reason why he has a low FC average. Let us see whether he finds his form again.
 
Only a solitary hundred since Dec 2022, and an average of 31 in the 12 months.

The Amazon documentaries shows he's quite a worrier about his game. Perhaps needs to relax and go back to basics.
 
Pat Cummins refuses to drop Marnus Labuschagne after his failures in Test cricket. He stated this during the post-match press conference after winning the first Test against New Zealand:

“No way his position is under threat. He is the first one who will admit that he wants to score runs. He is batting well in the nets and Marnus has been unlucky in some of the innings as well."

“Our top six batters are the best in Australia There are times when some of them are not able to score runs but we need to stand up for them when going gets tough. Everyone is going well."
 
FearlessRoar said:
Pat Cummins refuses to drop Marnus Labuschagne after his failures in Test cricket. He stated this during the post-match press conference after winning the first Test against New Zealand:

“No way his position is under threat. He is the first one who will admit that he wants to score runs. He is batting well in the nets and Marnus has been unlucky in some of the innings as well."

“Our top six batters are the best in Australia There are times when some of them are not able to score runs but we need to stand up for them when going gets tough. Everyone is going well."
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The form of the Australia No.3 is not causing too much worry for head coach Andrew McDonald.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is unperturbed by some indifferent recent form from key batter Marnus Labuschagne as the reigning ICC World Test Championship winners get set to name an unchanged XI for the second Test against New Zealand.

Labuschagne managed contributions of just one and two during Australia's emphatic 172-run triumph in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington and the right-hander has now failed to score more than 10 in his past three Test appearances.

While McDonald acknowledged Labuschagne was not scoring as well as he would like, the Australian coach is happy to back his No.3 to turn his form around starting with the second Test against the Kiwis that commences in Christchurch on Friday, 8 March.

"I don't think there's any great concern from our point of view, in terms of we want the top six or seven batters to be performing as a collective," McDonald said.

"So while the rest are performing around that and you're winning games of cricket, the concern levels are fractionally lower.

"Over time there's going to be some ebbs and flows in your career and I thought in the second innings … the intent and the energy he (Labuschagne) brought to the crease – and it was only two runs, so I don't want to get carried away – but that's what we see when he's at his best."

McDonald pointed to Labuschagne's unbeaten 62* against Pakistan in January and 11th Test century during the Ashes series with England in the middle of last year as innings that showed what the Australian No.3 was capable of.

"We saw that at Sydney (against Pakistan) in the second innings, we saw that at Manchester (in last year's Ashes) where he had the intent to score and put it back on the bowler," McDonald noted.

"Sometimes the conditions don't allow that, and you have to absorb a little bit more.

"But sometimes he under-values, even in difficult conditions, when he's showing that intent how much pressure he can put back on to the bowling unit of the opponent."

www.icc-cricket.com

Misfiring Labuschagne little concern for Australia coach

The form of the Australia No.3 is not causing too much worry for head coach Andrew McDonald.
www.icc-cricket.com www.icc-cricket.com
 
Marnus Labuschagne scored a vital 90 runs in the first innings of the second test against New Zealand to lift his team out of a difficult situation.
 

Marnus Labuschagne facing punishment over ugly umpire clash​


Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne is facing disciplinary action after an altercation with an umpire during a club game.

The 30-year-old was charged with umpire dissent following the fiery exchange, which occurred during a grade cricket match in Brisbane.

Labuschagne was playing for Redlands during last week’s T20 Max tournament, taking on Valleys in the semi-final at Allan Border field.

Things turned south when Labuschagne, who captains Redlands, became involved in a heated dispute with an umpire in the seventh over of Valleys’ run chase.

The altercation stemmed from a decision not to dismiss Valleys’ batsman Hugh Weibgen, who was ruled not-out due to a bump ball.

Redlands’ wicketkeeper Leigh Drennan had taken what he believed was a legitimate catch moments earlier.

Footage aired on Kayo shows Labuschagne arguing with the umpire for an extended period, even after being signalled to move on.

 
Marnus Labuschagne claimed his best bowling figures today, 3/39, in the 1st ODI against England, including the crucial wicket of dangerous Ben Duckett
 
Labuschagne joined the party late with Travis Head to beat England by 7 wickets in the 1st ODI today.
1726778754863.jpg
 
Marnus Labuschagne was the leading run scorer in the last BGT in Australia with 426 runs in 8 innings, averaging 53.25
 
Scored 2 runs of 52 balls today against India in the 1st test match of the BGT 2024.

Stat: Two runs is the fewest Labuschagne has aggregated after facing 50 deliveries, the previous lowest being five against England at the Oval in 2023
 
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