Labuschagne's heroics echo through Ashes history

A 25-year-old, 175-centimetre tall batsman on his first tour to England has taken his opportunity and become a great success with consistent performances in the Test series playing “cool, confident, skilful cricket’’.

He broke into the team when he was considered an outsider by some and was then caught up in a substitute player scenario that had not been seen in Test cricket before.

Sound familiar?

Well, Marnus Labuschagne has certainly grasped the chance to take his place in the Australian team and impressed all with his batting since being the first Test match concussion substitute when he replaced Steve Smith in at Lord’s.

By scoring 67 on the first day at Old Trafford, he continued his fine form. As Geoff Lemon has pointed out on Twitter, Smith and those who have substituted for him have made at least a half century in every innings of this series so far.

However, parallels with Labuschagne’s story can be found in another 25-year-old of the same stature from 1884. Henry Scott also found himself on his first Ashes tour mainly due to the unavailability of several key Test players.

When he was selected for the first Test, he batted down the order at number eight as he was yet to earn his stripes. Similar to Labuschagne, little was expected.

In the second Test at the Oval, Australia found themselves 6-93 when Scott entered. He made 75 before being the first Test batsman to be caught by a substitute fielder – his own captain Billy Murdoch.

Labuschagne, of course, first came to fame when he took a fine diving catch at short leg off Nathan Lyon as a substitute in the 2014-15 Test at the Gabba against India.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Scott’s tenth-wicket stand with Harry Boyle of 69 boosted the score to a respectable 243. Trying to save his team in the second innings, Scott had been elevated to six in the batting order. By making an undefeated 31 he was the top scorer in both innings.

With confidence gained from these feats, Scott was promoted in the order to four – similar to Labuschagne’s elevation to first drop. And like the Queenslander, he made the most of this chance by also mixing attack and defence when he made 102 at the Oval. While doing so he put on 207 with his captain Murdoch in the first double-century partnership in Test cricket.

On this tour, Scott was given the nickname Tup as he loved London sightseeing tours that cost two pence or tuppence. This echoes of something a little unusual that would fit Labuschagne’s character, described by Tim Paine as “strange”.

What does the future hold for Labuschagne? If the parallels continue, could he become a Test captain like Scott, who rose from relative obscurity during the 1884 tour and returned in 1886 as the leader of the Ashes party?

Cricket was almost a hobby for Tup Scott, who was a medical student on his first tour and retired from Test cricket after captaining his second. He had been bowled by Dr WG Grace on his debut and was advised by the great doctor about his medical career. Scott became such a famous doctor in the Hunter Valley that the hospital at Scone is name after him.

One thing for certain is that cricket is not a hobby for the cricket-mad Labuschagne. But in many other ways his impressive performances resemble those of Dr Henry Scott 135 years ago, who Wisden described as “playing cool, confident, skilful cricket”.

Can you think of other Test players who have prospered when given an unexpected opportunity, Roarers?