"Australia's No.3 rolling in bowling bouncers to Virat Kohli, I think people want to see that" - Marnus Labuschagne on his seam bowling ability
Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne feels that people want to see more of his pace bowling, and hinted at unleashing some of his bouncers at Virat Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series.
Labuschagne has always been confident of his bowling ability, acting as a reliable part-time leg-spin option across formats. With a memorable year so far with the ball, his stocks as a bowler has seen a massive rise.
He has bowled more than 100 overs in first-class cricket with 83 wickets to his name. In recent times, he has become more comfortable bowling in white-ball formats as well. He bowled extensively for Glamorgan in the Vitality T20 Blast a few months back and also picked up a five-wicket haul during the campaign.
Even in national colors, he bowled seven overs in the ODI series against England, recording figures of 3-39 in the first match.
"What are you going to get there? Are you going to get the number three of Australia rolling in bowling bouncers to Virat Kohli? I think people want to see that. You want to see, can you play on someone's ego? Are you going to be ducking bouncers from Marnus?" Labuschagne said on The Grade Cricketer.
Labuschagne was recently seen bowling seam-up for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield encounter against Western Australia. Leading the side, he brought himself into the attack, and bowled a barrage of bouncers at Sam Whiteman and Alex Carey, while setting an unorthodox field in the process.
"I'd love to hit a little 135 kmph bouncer" - Marnus Labuschagne
Australia are looking for a potential fourth seamer to assist the seam trio following Cameron Green's season-ending injury, and Marsh's workload concerns. Labuschagne had castled Cameron Green in the 2021 Sheffield Shield with his medium pace, and is bound to be in Cummins' ear during the upcoming series against India.
"I'm happy to throw in whenever. Whatever the team needs. I'd love to hit a little 135 kmph bouncer. I got that in me. My highest recorded is 132 kmph, so just three k more. The boys hate that. They'll hate that I've said that I've got 135 in me," Labuschagne added.
Labuschagne bowled a 16-over spell against India during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series in the fourth Test in Sydney. Since then, he has bowled on sporadic occasions home and away against the Men in Blue, but is yet to claim a wicket.