Follow UsIf you’d told Marnus Labuschagne before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa that he was lucky to still be in the XI, he would probably have agreed.
Before the final, he averaged a mere 21.94 across his previous 12 Tests, and had about three knocks of substance in a 21-inning stretch.
The returning and incumbent Cameron Green making tons in County Cricket meant that Labuschagne’s spot at No.3 was untenable, but Australia still decided to throw one more chance at him, asking him to open the batting instead of Sam Konstas — more so due to the latter’s inexperience than his own form.
Come the big day, it was all going well for Labuschagne. He looked solid and assured, which in itself was a surprise, considering he had struggled for Glamorgan too, posting scores of 23, 0 & 4. He saw off the new ball without much trouble, and was scoring fluently while at it too: at one point, he was 17 off 35 balls, and had gotten away a delightful cover drive off Lungi Ngidi.
He was, for once, looking in good rhythm, and that made you entertain the thought that maybe a big knock was coming.
But then came the same old issue(s) that’s haunted him: first, a complete draught of runs and then that dreaded outside edge.
After making his way to 17 off 35 balls, Labuschagne went 20 straight balls without scoring. This coincided with South Africa introducing the impressive Wiaan Mulder, who had bowled 18 balls to him without conceding a single run, beating the right-hander’s bat on numerous occasions.
Three straight maidens faced Mulder, and then came the death knell for Labuschagne in the 18th over: a nick to the wicketkeeper off the bowling of Marco Jansen.
The fourth-fifth stump line has been Labuschagne’s Achilles Heel since 2023, and it continues to haunt him.
There was promise in this innings, but the fact remains that Labuschagne is living on borrowed time. For all we know, he might just have one more innings to save his Test career (for the time being).