Marnus Labuschagne was on Wednesday dismissed for a painstaking 17 off 56 deliveries, edging a rising delivery to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne
Marnus Labuschagne (Pic: AFP)
Marnus Labuschagne, long seen as a cornerstone of Australia’s Test batting lineup and a possible long-term successor to David Warner, finds himself mired in a difficult stretch of form. His struggles against left-arm seamers were once again laid bare during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s, where he fell cheaply to South African pacer Marco Jansen.
Labuschagne was on Wednesday dismissed for a painstaking 17 off 56 deliveries, edging a rising delivery to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. His innings, which included just a single boundary, did little to steady Australia after a shaky start. The right-hander’s vulnerability against left-arm seam continues to be a pressing concern, since 2022, he has scored just 104 runs off 271 balls against left-arm quicks, falling six times in the process. His average in such matchups stands at a modest 17.33, split evenly between dismissals to deliveries coming over and around the wicket.
Labuschagne’s recent returns reflect a sharp dip compared to his earlier dominance in Test cricket. Throughout the ongoing WTC cycle (2023–25), he has featured regularly in Australia’s middle order but has amassed only 952 runs from 20 matches, including a solitary century and eight fifties, a stark contrast to his once-prolific output.
Earlier in the day, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma opted to bowl first under overcast skies. Kagiso Rabada delivered a fiery opening spell, instantly putting Australia under pressure. The breakthrough came in the seventh over when Usman Khawaja, Australia’s highest run-getter in this WTC cycle, was dismissed for a 20-ball duck. Attempting to get across the line, Khawaja edged a Rabada delivery straight to David Bedingham at slip, leaving Australia reeling at 12/1.
Promoted to No. 3, Cameron Green failed to make an impact. After striking a boundary early, he was dismissed for just four runs off three balls, undone by a superb low catch from Aiden Markram at second slip. With Australia at 16/2 in just the seventh over, the reshuffled top order appeared to be faltering under pressure.
Labuschagne joined Steve Smith at the crease, and the pair looked to steady the ship. Smith managed to find some rhythm, peppering the boundary with confident strokes, but the calm was short-lived. Labuschagne, looking tentative throughout his stay, eventually nicked off against Jansen, with Verreynne completing the catch behind the stumps. Australia slipped to 46/3 in the 18th over.
Travis Head, one of the architects of Australia’s 2023 WTC triumph, provided a brief flourish, helping Australia cross the 50-run mark. However, Jansen struck again, dismissing Head for 11 off 13 balls as lunch was taken with Australia tottering at 67/4.
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