Two weeks ago, Marnus Labuschagne’s confession that he deserved to be dropped from Australia’s one-day squad for the ODI World Cup in India next month was followed by a message that he still thinks that he’s perfect number 4 for the Australian team.
Now with a sublime batting performance against South Africa on Thursday, he gave the selectors something to think about, maybe Labuschagne’s inclusion in the upcoming ODI World Cup squad. In the match against South Africa, Labuschagne came on as a concussion substitute for Cameron Green and hit an unbeaten 80 to dig Australia out of a hole and see them to a three-wicket victory.
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Marnus Labuschagne, who was born in South Africa but raised in Queensland, revealed that his mother had predicted he would play in the match. Despite not being in the team, his mother stayed for the whole game and had a feeling that he would play. Labuschagne’s mother was right, as he came on as a concussion substitute for Cameron Green and hit an unbeaten 80 to help Australia win the match.
Labuschagne’s performance was a timely reminder to selectors on the eve of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He is part of the squad for the South Africa tour as Steve Smith has stayed home because of a wrist injury but had not been down to play in Thursday’s clash at the Manguang Oval.
Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine lauded Marnus Labuschagne’s heroics in the first ODI at Bloemfontein and backed the “super sub” to be included in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Cameron Green was hit on the side of the head by a vicious bouncer from Kagiso Rabada and had to leave the field straightaway. Marnus Labuschagne came on as his concussion substitute and helped Australia chase down South Africa’s total of 222. Labuschagne replaced Green midway through the run chase and combined with Ashton Agar to guide Australia to an unlikely victory from a position of 7-113.
Labuschagne’s innings was firm and determined, a player of his calibre who has been in sticky situation in test many a times, gave a testament of grit and game reading ability. Often it takes a kind of manifestion of an innings where a player ushers out his team from threatning position to winning position. It was an amalgamation of attack and defence in labuschagne’s brilliant innings.
After the match, Labuschagne said that he wasn’t too shocked when he was dropped and that he still wants to be the person batting in the middle order for Australia. He also said that he just needs to make sure that he takes every opportunity he gets and that if he gets to see his daughter, that’s a win for him.
