"Don't be surprised if he walks out in Brisbane and makes a hundred" - Michael Clarke on star Australian batter ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has predicted that Marnus Labuschagne is not too far away from a big knock. The comments came after his gritty display against the Indian bowlers with the pink ball in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Adelaide Oval.
The right-hander entered the series amid intense scrutiny and had received flak for his dismal set of displays in the first Test in Perth. With a promising record in Adelaide Oval, and in day-night Tests, Labuschagne bounced back with 64 runs off 126 deliveries, surviving a tough phase of play late on Day 1 under the lights against Jasprit Bumrah and company.
The fifty has eased some pressure off Labuschagne's back, given that Sam Konstas is not far away from being considered by the selectors.
Former Australia opener David Warner, however, was left unconvinced by Labuschagne's display:
“I’m still not convinced with Marnus. I don’t think that was anywhere near what we know he’s capable of," Warner said on Fox Sports (via Hindustan Times).
In response, Michael Clarke came to Labuschagne's defense, citing that the fifty in Adelaide was the start from where the batter could look to bounce back.
"I thought that the way he found a way to get through that first night was exceptional. I don't think India got their line and length right, like they did in Perth. They were a fraction short, and a fraction wide. But, Marnus deserves a lot of credit. So does McSweeney. I think the way they let the ball go, they held their line in defence," Clarke said on ESPN's Around the Wicket show.
"He has not scored as many runs as he would like, so it's never going to look perfect first up. I think generally, as a batter, if you can scratch yourself to a half-century or a sixty or a seventy, you take that. Because then the next innings is the one where you start to feel a bit more confident, more balls are hitting the middle of the bat. So, don't be surprised if he walks out in Brisbane and makes a big and important hundred," Clarke added.
Marnus Labuschagne began the year on a promising note, recording twin fifties against Pakistan. However, he lost his form since then, enduring a poor set of series against the West Indies and New Zealand.
"If he is going to get caught at gully averaging 50 or 60, I'm okay with that" - Michael Clarke on Labuschagne
While criticizing Labuschagne, Warner also pointed out that the No.3 batter tends to lose his wicket in the same fashion as his Adelaide dismissal after being set. In the second Test against India, Labuschagne perished while attempting a cut, only for Yashasvi Jaiswal to take a sharp catch at gully.
"Davey makes a point, he was not at his best, and if he is going to get caught at gully averaging 50 or 60, I'm okay with that," Clarke concluded via the aforementioned source where he spoke.
The third Test between India and Australia is scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 14, onwards at The Gabba in Brisbane.