Tag: Marnus Labuschagne

Australia’s middle-order batter Marnus Labuschagne on Monday, announced to retire his bat which he used in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 final against India.

Labuschagne played a pivotal role in Australia’s success with an unbeaten half-century.

He played an anchoring role while Travis Head dominated the Indian bowlers. The pair put together a match-defining partnership of 192 off 215 balls to guide Australia win their sixth World Cup title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne has announced that he is finally retiring the bat he used to help his team emerge victorious in the blockbuster final.

Taking to Instagram, Labuschagne posted a couple of photos of the bat, heavily damaged and torn out.

“Think it’s finally time to retire the World Cup final bat,” wrote Labuschagne in the caption.

Travis Head’s century and Marnus Labuschagne’s important 58 not out led Australia to their record sixth World Cup title with a six-wicket win over India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final.

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, were crowned World Cup champions for the sixth time on November 19, 2023, having lifted the prestigious on five occasions before in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.

Australia bowled out India for 240 and then galloped to victory in the 43rd over.

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Set to chase a modest 241, Australia comfortably knocked off the winning runs in 43 overs, courtesy of a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership between Head and Labuschagne.

Australia found themselves in a state of bother earlier in the run chase when they slipped to 47/3 in just seven overs with in-form openers David Warner (7), Mitchell Marsh (15) and experienced batter Steve Smith (4) perishing cheaply.

The left-handed opener put together a match-winning 192-run partnership with Marnus Labushagne which put Australia in touching distance to their record victory.

Head was the core aggressor of the magnificent stand while Labuschagne batted cautiously to make sure he did not throw away his wicket.

The opener, however, could not score the winning runs for his team as he smashed a short delivery from Mohammed Siraj straight to Shubman Gill at deep midwicket.

Travis Head top-scored for Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 final with a brilliant 137. His 120-ball knock featured 15 boundaries and four sixes.

Coming out to bat at number five, Glenn Maxwell wasted no time and scored the winning runs for Australia as he pulled Siraj for a couple.

Marnus Labuschagne, who played an anchoring role in Australia’s World Cup victory remained unbeaten on 58. He faced 110 deliveries and hit four boundaries.

READ: Arshad Nadeem shares he received offers to represent UK, Turkiye

MELBOURNE: Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi sledged and repeatedly stared at Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne during the entertaining opening day of the Boxing Day Test.

Australia were on the back foot as their batters found it difficult to counter Pakistan pacers under seam-friendly conditions.
Shaheen Afridi created opportunities, but fielders failed to capitalize on them. Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam dropped simple catches against opener David Warner.

Then, the floodlights got turned out due to dark clouds over the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The cloudy conditions along with Shaheen Afridi and his fellow pacer Hassan Ali’s aggressive approach troubled Australia at both ends.

Marnus Labuschagne’s innings was one of the talking points on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test. Things got heated when the right-handed batter asked the on-field umpire to stop play citing “substandard playing conditions” as his reason. 

Marnus Labuschagne was on the back foot in the 40th over as he faced Shaheen Afridi’s thunderbolts. The viral video of the battle showed the right-handed batter finding it difficult to counter the left-arm pacer.

How did Marnus labuschagne survived this spell of Shaheen Shah Afridi🔥? #PAKvsAUS #BabarAzam #ShaheenShahAfridi pic.twitter.com/EtqgAAD1pJ

— Amir Zafar (@amirzafar381) December 26, 2023

 

It is pertinent to mention that the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground had a captivating start with the visitors restricting the hosts to 187-3 on the first day with their spirited performance.

The second Test was interrupted by rain in the latter half of the day, consequently allowing only 66 overs of play.

Australian batters Marnus Labuschagne (44) and Travis Head (9) will resume the batting against Pakistan on the second day.

Australia managed to score 90-1 in the first session on the first day of the Boxing Day Test on the back of a solid opening partnership between Usman Khawaja and David Warner.

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The 90-run partnership was broken at the stroke of lunch as Warner was caught by Babar Azam off Salman Ali Agha after being dropped earlier by Abdullah Shafique.

Warned played an innings of 38 off 83 with three boundaries.

Australia could only add 23 runs from 15 overs in the second session before rain interruption halted the play, while Pakistan removed Usman Khawaja, who was caught by Salman Ali Agha in slips on Hasan Ali’s bowling.

Khawaja scored 42 runs from 101 balls with five boundaries.

The rain prompted umpires to take an early Tea break with the scoreboard reading 114-2.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith resumed their innings in the last session as they added 46 runs for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed.

Smith was caught behind off Aamer Jamal after scoring 26 runs.

Travis Head then joined Labuschagne and together they took Australia’s total to 187-3 at the end of the first day’s play during the Boxing Day Test.

READ: Hasan Ali opens up on Pakistan’s pace dip

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne said Monday that he was “definitely” right to feature in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan despite suffering a painful blow to his right hand while batting in the recently concluded Perth Test.

Australia were sweating on Marnus Labuschagne’s fitness after a knock to his little finger saw him sent for scans.

During the sixth over of Australia’s second innings at Perth Stadium, Pakistan debutant Khurram Shahzad produced a jaffa that jumped off a good length and struck Labuschagne on the right hand.

He eventually continued batting after the team doctor and physiotherapist had a lengthy examination of his right small finger.

But, having faced just seven more balls before being dismissed by the same bowler, he continued to receive treatment from the medicos before being sent for X-rays at the close of play.

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The scans, however, revealed no visible fracture but Marnus Labuschagne admitted that he felt discomfort while facing express pacer Lance Morris in the nets prior to the fourth-day action in Perth.

The prognosis on Marnus Labuschagne’s finger can’t be too dire. Here he is facing the Wild Thing in the nets before play. Green and Boland also going full tilt at him #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/01UEsEoC0V

— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) December 17, 2023

 

Labuschagne further revealed that he was initially afraid of sustaining structural damage to his hand, but not of an extent to the hand injury copped by Travis Head, which kept him out of the action 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.”

For the unversed, Marnus Labuschagne was retained in the “trimmed” Australia squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, which saw the omission of right-arm pacer Lance Morris.

The lanky pacer will return to Perth Scorchers, who next face Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Pakistan penalized for slow over-rate after Perth Test debacle

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne suffered an injury scare after a ball hit his little finger ferociously on day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.

Earlier, the visitors’ batting lineup unfolded before lunch on the third day at Optus Stadium after they slipped from 3-188 to 271 all out.

However, the hosts’ plans of leaving Pakistan with an insurmountable total were hurt late when firebrand left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi and debutant Khurram Shahzad wreaked early havoc.

Australia succumbed to 5/2 in the eighth over when Khurram Shahzad removed David Warner (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (2) in quick succession.

After having a disastrous start to their second innings, the hosts recovered to 84/2 at the stumps on Day 3 with Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja firm at the crease.

Australia were sweating on Marnus Labuschagne’s fitness after a knock to his little finger saw him sent for scans.

During the sixth over of Australia’s second innings at Perth Stadium, Pakistan debutant Khurram Shahzad produced a jaffa that jumped off a good length and struck Labuschagne on the right hand.

He eventually continued batting after the team doctor and physiotherapist had a lengthy examination of his right small finger.

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But, having faced just seven more balls before being dismissed by the same bowler, he continued to receive treatment from the medicos before being sent for X-rays at the close of play.

“He was just with the doc and physio for the last hour just chatting through it, doing a few tests on the finger,” paceman Josh Hazlewood told reporters at stumps with Australia leading by 300 runs.

“I daresay there might be a scan … he was pretty sore I think.”

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed a full diagnosis was expected in the morning.

Usman Khawaja, who was at the non-striker’s end when Marnus Labuschagne was hit, admitted his concern.

“It didn’t look pretty,” Khawaja said, adding: “Marnus is a pretty tough character. When he takes his glove and starts to do that I get a bit worried, because he’s a pretty tough guy.”

Hazlewood labelled Smith “incredibly brave” for soldiering on after he too required treatment before stumps when Shaheen Shah Afridi landed a blow to his left arm.

But Smith insisted at stumps: “It’s all right. Bit of a bruise, but I’ll live.”

With Australia already holding an imposing lead, signs of the pitch breaking up have encouraged the hosts’ bowlers.

Groundstaff had hoped the drop-in wicket at the cavernous stadium would show more signs of wear and tear after it largely held together for their Test against West Indies last summer.

Their approach looks to have succeeded, with temperatures in the mid-thirties helping to bake out and open up small cracks.

“Batting got really tough there at the end,” said Hazlewood. “As the game goes along I think the cracks will come more into play, another hot day tomorrow I believe.

“I think it’s probably going to be tougher to play the short ball than (it was) the first innings.

READ: Smith, Khawaja power Australia to 300-run lead against Pakistan

Right-arm batter Marnus Labuschagne replaced Ashton Agar in Australia’s final squad for the ICC World Cup 2023, commencing on October 5.

According to the details, Agar failed to recover from a calf injury, which kept him out of the T20I series against South Africa.

His last appearance for Australia, however, came earlier this month when he featured in the five-match ODI series against South Africa.

Consequently, Marnus Labuschagne, who was initially left out of Australia’s squad, replaced Ashton Agar for the ICC World Cup 2023.

Agar’s exclusion meant Australia will enter the mega event with just one specialist spinner Adam Zampa while veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, would likely be given a role to strengthen their spin bowling department.

Australia finalized their squad on Thursday for the ICC World Cup 2023, delaying this alteration until the very last minute.

For the unversed, all the 10 participating teams were bound to submit their final squad to the International Cricket Council (ICC) by September 28 and any tweaks to that after the cut-off date needed approval from the apex cricket body.

Meanwhile, Australia named injured Travis Head in their final ICC World Cup 2023 squad, who is anticipated to make a mid-tournament return.

Head fractured his hand during Australia’s 164-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa in the fourth ODI of the recently-held five-match series.

The five-time champions Australia will take on Netherlands on September 30 and Pakistan on October 3 in their warm-up fixtures before starting their World Cup campaign against hosts India on October 8 in Chennai.

Australia’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2023: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

READ: Pakistan squad starts training in India ahead of ICC World Cup 2023

All-rounder Cameron Green will miss a substantial part of Australia’s Cricket World Cup build-up after being struck on the head by a ball from Kagiso Rabada during the first one-day international against South Africa on Thursday.

An Australia team spokesperson confirmed on Friday that Cameron Green will undergo an eight-day concussion protocol during which he will be monitored by the team’s medical staff.

He is unlikely to be available until the fifth and final match in Johannesburg on September 17.

It adds to a list of injury concerns for Australia with the World Cup starting in India on October 5, less than a month away.

It also provides an opportunity for Marnus Labuschagne to press his claims for a call-up if a vacancy opens up in the World Cup squad.

Marnus Labuschagne was man of the match on Thursday after batting as a concussion substitute for Green. He made 80 not out to steer Australia to an unlikely three–wicket win.

He went out to bat with Australia 72 for five, which then became 113 for seven chasing South Africa’s 222 all out on a tricky pitch.

Injuries meant that only 11 of Australia’s World Cup squad of 15 travelled to South Africa. Cameron Green’s injury reduced that number to ten, which means Marnus Labuschagne has a good chance of playing in at least the next three matches, starting with the second game in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Australian captain Pat Cummins is recovering from a wrist injury. Other World Cup players missing the South African tour because of injuries of varying degrees of seriousness are Glenn Maxwell (ankle), Mitchell Starc (groin) and Steve Smith (wrist).

Australia still have a three-match one-day series in India ahead of the World Cup in which injured players can prove their fitness.

Marnus Labuschagne was not due to tour South Africa, having been dropped after a sequence of poor form in one-day games. He was added to the squad when Smith withdrew. After his match-winning performance on Thursday, he played down his chances of getting to the World Cup.

“I wasn’t too shocked when I was dropped. But I did say (to the selectors) that I still want to be that person batting for you in the middle order. You’ve just got to sit tight and wait for that opportunity and when the opportunity comes you’ve got to be ready.”

READ: Kapp, Luus tons aid South Africa to thump Pakistan

Australia captain Pat Cummins has forecast a “big week” for leading batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the second Test against England at Lord’s.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne managed just 35 runs between them across four innings in the first Test at Edgbaston last week, yet Australia still won a thrilling encounter by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.

This week will mark Steve Smith’s first match at Lord’s since he was felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the 2019 Ashes Test at the ground.

Marnus Labuschagne replaced Steve Smith as a concussion substitute and made 59, an innings that proved the launchpad for a run spree in Test cricket.

“I don’t think we played the complete game last week by a long shot,” Cummins said at Lord’s on Tuesday, on the eve of the second Test.

“I think that is one of the most pleasing things, that we weren’t at our best but still managed to get over the line. That is not always going to be the case.

“History would suggest Marnus and Smithy rarely miss out, so I am expecting a big week from them.”

Pat Cummins, unlike England, has yet to name his side, although he did reveal Mitchell Starc has been drafted into the squad, with the left-arm quick seemingly competing for a place in the final XI with fellow paceman Scott Boland.

“We will have another look at the wicket and make a final decision tomorrow,” said the skipper.

England, with the pitch at Lord’s showing a green tinge, have opted for an all-seam attack and have decided against selecting a specialist spinner — Moeen Ali suffered a finger injury at Edgbaston.

Fast bowler Josh Tongue, who made his Test debut against Ireland at Lord’s earlier this month, has been chosen in Moeen’s place, with England having the option of Joe Root’s occasional spin.

By contrast, Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is set to become the first specialist bowler to appear in 100 consecutive Tests, with the 35-year-old also in sight of the landmark figure of 500 Test wickets.

“I think it’s a testament not only to how good Nathan is in terms of longevity and fitness and form, but to be able to play 100 Tests means you are getting picked in all conditions,” said fast bowler Cummins.

He added: “I couldn’t imagine a side without Nath in there.

“I’ve seen they have gone with four quicks, which is probably as we expected after seeing Moeen’s injury last week, but I feel really lucky we’ve got Nathan.

“Hundredth consecutive Test match, (potentially) 500 Test wickets, it’s incredible all the milestones he keeps ticking off. This is a really special place in cricket but for Australia as well. We’ve had some success at this ground in recent years so yeah, a big one for the memory bank.”

READ: Wasim Akram believes Pakistan should play WC matches as scheduled

DUBAI: England’s experienced batter Joe Root brought an end to Marnus Labuschagne’s reign as the No.1 ranked Test batter in the world, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Wednesday.

Marnus Labuschagne held the premier position for just over six months, with the right-hander rising to the top in December last year on the back of a strong start to the Australian summer against the West Indies.

But a slow start to 2023 by his lofty standards, coupled with Joe Root’s 30th Test century against Australia in the dramatic first Ashes Test at Edgbaston has seen a major shakeup at the top of the batter rankings.

Joe Root managed scores of 118* and 46 in a losing cause during the first Ashes Test in Birmingham and those superb individual efforts saw the 32-year-old rise a massive five places and regain his place as the No.1 ranked Test batter in the world.

Marnus Labuschagne drops to third as a result of scores of 0 and 13 against England, with Kiwi veteran Kane Williamson jumping two places to second overall.

Fellow Australians Travis Head (down one place to fourth) and Steve Smith (drops four spots to sixth) also lose ground in the race to become the No.1 Test batter, with just 26 rating points now separating the top six players in what is one of the closest battles seen in recent times.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja was adjudged Player of the Match for his heroics against England and the 36-year-old rose to a new career-best rating and seventh place overall, while young gun Harry Brook also earnt the highest mark of his short Test career by jumping five places to 13th on the latest Test rankings.

Meanwhile, Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam retained his fifth spot in the updated ICC Test Batting Rankings.

The new rankings for bowlers didn’t show nearly as much change, with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin holding his lead at the top over England’s James Anderson, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, and Australia’s Pat Cummins.

READ: Ashraf, Ramday nominated BoG members as Sethi & Co ousted

PERTH: Run machine Marnus Labuschagne joined an elite group of just eight players Saturday to make double and single centuries in the same Test, admitting “a bit of luck” helped him to the feat.

The masterful number three was not out 104 when Australia declared its second innings at lunch on day four and set the West Indies 498 to win the first Test in Perth.

It followed his 204 in the first innings and made him only the third Australian to hit 200 and 100 in the same Test, after Doug Walters and Greg Chappell.

Only five others have made the grade, including West Indies greats Brian Lara and Lawrence Rowe, India’s Sunil Gavaskar, England’s Graham Gooch and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, Cricket Australia said.

Labuschagne was targeted by a series of short balls by Alzarri Joseph early in his knock Saturday, including an edge that hit his helmet and was caught at gully while he was on 19.

He was preparing to walk off the field when a no-ball was called and he made the most of his life to reach the milestone.

“Obviously a bit of luck today with that bouncer, he (Joseph) was bowling fast there and it got away,” Labuschagne said.

“It’s always nice, it’s something I’ve never done in Test cricket (double century and century in the same match), very proud.”

READ: ‘ICC need to think out of box’ Ramiz on Pakistan-India stalemate

LAHORE: Australia’s top-order and the top-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne reviewed Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan and called it an eye-opening experience.

In the 39th podcast, released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Labuschagne shared his experience and revealed that the country exceeded his expectations.

“There was a lot of talk about the security and I alongside the whole team felt extremely safe here,” he said.

“It has been a really eye-opening experience to what Pakistan is like. You have a lot of speculations when you haven’t been to a country and paint a picture in mind but the country itself exceeded my expectations in terms of the picture and the people are about,” he added.

The right-handed batter further commented about the hospitality of the nation and revealed it almost felt like a home series.

“Pakistani people have really accepted the Australian team and it almost felt like a home game with the number of crowd cheers in our support was simply amazing,” he said.

“They are amazing and lovely people and I myself have exceeded to accepting to the Australians, that they are so welcoming,” he added.

Labuschagne then went on to comment about Babar Azam’s heroic knock in the fourth innings of the Karachi Test, saying, “If it wasn’t for him, we would have won that game.”

The top-ranked Test batter further heaped praises on the Pakistan pacers and said he was really impressed with them for keep coming back.

“I have been really impressed with the Pakistani quicks, just the way they kept coming back on a pitch that doesn’t offer you much,” he said.

“I looked at their paces and they just kept banging the wickets and hanging around 140 kph mark regardless of what time of the day it is,” he added.

The top-ranked Test batter then lauded young Pakistani opening batter Abdullah Shafique saying, “He is a very good player and probably a really good find for Pakistan.”

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