Marnus Labuschagne’s eighth Test century steered Australia into a dominant position on Day 1 of their series against the West Indies in Perth.
The Queenslander rode his luck, including regular edges through the slip cordon off young quick Jayden Seales, to start the summer in style, unbeaten on 154 at stumps after combining with first Usman Khawaja (65) and then Steve Smith (59 not out) as the home side reached 2/293.
It’s Labuschagne’s second Test century at Optus Stadium, following on from his twin efforts of 143 and 50 against New Zealand in the last Test at the venue nearly three years ago.
The ton had extra meaning for Labuschagne: it’s his first since becoming a father for the first time in September, with wife Rebekah and daughter Hallie in attendance to see him reach three figures.
“It was nice for her to see her first day of Test cricket and for me to be able to get a hundred,” Labuschagne said after stumps.
“Those are memories that sit with you for a very long time… it [scoring a century] was certainly a bit more special as a dad.”
The only downside for Australia was another low score from David Warner, the out of form opener dragging Seales back onto his own stumps for just 5 to continue a three-year lean spell that began following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in front of a sparse crowd at Optus Stadum – former coach Justin Langer appearing to bury the hatchet with the players pre-match after a series of media barbs doing nothing to get West Australians through the turnstiles – Warner’s early departure was the first and only sign the Windies could give Australia a challenge in their first meeting in five-day cricket since January 2016.
Seales remained consistently threatening – Jason Holder could have done more at slip to snaffle an edge flying past him, while Labuschagne in particular looked troubled by his pace and bounce – but with spinner Roston Chase (0/63 from 15 overs) attacked from the outset and Holder economical but unthreatening, he had few helpers.
A benign Perth surface, a far cry from pe-match predictions of a ‘green monster’ let alone the fabled WACA pitches of old, did nothing to help the cause, with sideways movement minimal all afternoon.
Watchful early, Khawaja began to sparkle, the left-hander’s remarkable renaissance in 2022 yielding yet another half-century. Patient against the quicks, Chase’s introduction into the attack brought more aggression, lofting him over long-off for six as he rose through the gears quickly.
At 1/72 at lunch, Labuschagne and Khawaja had set an ideal platform: the former would bring up his half-century shortly after the resumption, while the latter waited until the 42nd over to raise his bat. Coming off 110 balls, it was the perfect opener’s innings, and with Warner’s form waning, officially stamps him as Australia’s first-choice opening bat.
A fifth Test century of 2022 would prove elusive, though, with the unassuming medium-pace of Kyle Mayers with his first ball of a new spell drawing a tentative Khawaja poke and edge behind for 65.
Smith, though, was more than happy to continue the Windies’ torment; armed with a tweaked batting style and having self-described himself as being as comfortable at the crease as he has been in years, Khawaja’s wicket would provide no relief for the tourists.
Capitalising on a flagging bowling attack and merciless against anything short, Smith’s half-century would arrive off just 75 deliveries, via a crisp drive off the expensive Chase.
The day, though, was all about Labuschagne: drawing praise for a far more traditional approach to batting, eschewing some of his famous extravagances, three figures were brought up in style as a short and wide Seales offering was flayed to the boundary at cover point.
There were few loud calls of ‘no run’, even fewer expansive leaves, and his usual fidgets and quirky mannerisms were almost non-existent: aside from the occasional edge, this was as no-nonsense a century as he has ever made.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates a century. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Labuschagne would continue to benefit from his extraordinary, multi-season run of good fortune, a wild cut late in the day falling just millimetres short of debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul at deep point. On 136 by that point, it wasn’t as if he needed the help.
The Windies’ lack of penetration, meanwhile, was evidenced by taking until the 87th over to so much as call for the DRS, using the review on an LBW shout against Smith that, catching him on the very top of the knee roll, was the definition of optimistic.
There was just enough time for Labuschagne to raise 150, his fourth such score in Tests and first since January 2020, before stumps, surviving a jaffa from Holder with a cry of ‘Oh, Jason, that’s a delicious ball!’ to end play on an amusing note.
Speaking to Fox Cricket after play, Labuschagne credited his Queensland upbringing, regularly playing on fast, bouncy pitches at the Gabba, for preparing him both mentally and physically for the challenge of batting in Perth.
“It certainly helps coming from Brisbane, and you’re playing on a bouncy wicket all the time,” Labuschagne said of adjusting to the Optus Stadium surface, where he now has 347 runs in three Test innings at an obscene average of 173.5
“You’re used to leaving the ball and understanding the tempo of the game, that runs come in patches.
“You don’t always score very quick, like in Adelaide or Sydney, but if you’re patient, you’ve got a good process, you can score big runs.”
For all the Windies’ battles throughout the day, it was to their immense credit – and an indictment on other recent touring teams to Australia – that they completed 90 overs well before the scheduled close of play despite a four-man pace attack and only 16 overs of spin from Chase and captain Kraigg Brathwaite.
Also meritorious was Brathwaite’s consistent attacking fields – at least two slips remained in the cordon throughout the day, for all the good it did. On a day like this, though, any further praise would be nothing more than patronising.
The last time the West Indies came to Australia for a Test series, in 2015/16, they mustered just 12 wickets across the three matches. If Day 1 seven years later is any guide, the tourists are in for a similarly exhausting time of it this time around.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Pluto leaving Capricorn, next year, can't come soon enough.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Hey Rowdy I know you've had your health issues in recent times. I'm sure you will get there, even if it takes some unwanted energy and focus to do so!. We, mostly, all end up having to do it! Just part of life I guess. I do hope you get back to India/Mumbai one day for some more Indian living! Sounds like you had a fun time when you were there a couple of years back. I'll watch out for you in the great astrological map in the sky :) Cheers matey!
Takeadeepbreath
Roar Rookie
Okay...Hi all...Obviously new to this forum, but needed to add my 2 cents. Love test cricket, but nothing I have seen in the last 2 days has got me excited. Wonderful batting from Australia....so it appears ?, but perhaps this is a flat a track designed to get some batting averages and confidence up. Time will tell now with the Windies at the crease, but suspect that even the inexperienced WI will put up a good first innings reply. Draw is my prediction..
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
10,000 odd is still more than they get on some days at Tests in India in recent years, unfortunately.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Fine innings, but a master class - when he was quite lucky and played a number of false strokes? Same saying Warner is out of form just because he got a low score. A loose-ish shot but unlucky to play on from so far wide, Marnus played two or three inside edges that had much bigger chance of hitting the stumps. Form needs a longer innings to judge. Smith was the one who really gave the master class.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was throwing my 13 month old son into the air one day. My then wife said "Don't do that!". With that he 'expelled' some recently ingressed breast milk out of his mouth and it went straight down my gullet without touching the sides. I gargled with mouthwash. I only bring it up in situations like this.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Classic Rowdy!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
If they were a law firm l wouldn't go to them.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
It was the dropping in 2011/12 after a narrow loss to NZ that lead to all manner of Cowan, Quiney, Doolan and Bailey shenanigans. Missed a lot of matches to lesser talents and an unnecessary battle that messed him around I reckon. He and Marsh got into a bit of a revolving door situation as well. Other selection silliness where he missed out; 4th Delhi 2013 picking an extra bowler when they needed an extra bat. A Sydney test vs SL where Wade batted 6, Johnson 7 ( after publicly disagreeing that he was an allrounder). So 5 paceman incl Watto and a spinner! The 3rd SL test 2016 - Only 4 proper bats! All rounders like Moises preferred. Regardless of his form, no one ever improved by not actually playing.
DTM
Roar Rookie
It was a pain starting a test summer on a Wednesday but CA is trying to squeeze 5 tests between now and early January. Easy to be critical but with so much cricket, scheduling is a thankless job and often there are critical factors we don't consider. I went yesterday but can't get there today - we'll see about Friday. Marnus was lucky but that happens - Warner was unlucky and maybe should have waited more than 4 overs before playing a shot like that without moving his feet. I thought the Windies weren't too bad - beat the bat often. I like Braithwait's captaincy - he tried things and kept attacking.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Questions about Warner's selection look even worse now thanks to his teammates cashing in.
Frank delosa
Guest
Well done Marn or Labs (whatever you prefer son)! Smith looks solid as stone out there and will likely bat a long dandle for today. Marn will hopefully get a few more runs in his belt. Uzzy played well as usual. Warner, as I have called for should be dropped and let a more worthy player in before the Ashes. Im looking at Renshaw. Or open with Marn and Uzzy and let Renshaw drop into first drop (#3 in case you werent aware). Go Day 2. Go cricket! AUS winning so far!
Clear as mud
Guest
I also thought he was a weak link in 17-18 and 18-19. Remember how he was so untrusted in India and Bangladesh in 17? Yet was back in the team ahead of Maxwell Renshaw and Cartwright for the Ashes. Easily looked the least impressive of the batters, got a big soft ton late. He was then very ordinary in SA. They go to UAE and he is a senior guy, and responds brilliantly. (I would have made him captain in SA.) So big things expected of him against India and SL - does very poorly again as he and the Marshes can’t provide the runs we need. But scores a very soft ton against Sri Lanka C…. The 2019 Ashes mediocrity has to be seen in that context IMHO I like him. A lot. I think he should have been backed in when younger. But was backed in when I wouldn’t have later on. I would have dropped him earlier in 2019. And probably not recalled him last year. He hasn’t had the best treatment. But I wouldn’t single him out compared to some others for bad treatment. It’s nice that he is closing the argument and having the last laugh. Has his own funky open chest technique and the score board does not lie!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think we may get 30K. Day 2 (Thursday) I expect will be around 15k. From anecdotal evidence re social discussions, I know many have set Friday aside as the day to attend. But yes the numbers are poor due to CA poor focus on the Tests themselves. Tests were once the "go-to" main event in the summer promotion. Unfortunately they are now treated as the "product" that is scheduled as the after-thought - or the default - to make sure the rest of the schedule (primarily BBL) works re timing. There's been little to no push by CA for this Windies Test to take any pre-eminence whatsoever as a marquee event of the summer. It's simply "scheduled" ("yeah, let's just stick it on a Wednesday start") in order to make it "fit" and get it out of the way and done. It almost feels like an inconvenience re the race to get to the week before Xmas when BBL starts and then there can be some short-term focus on the Boxing Day and NY Tests. The general public will inevitably mirror CA's appetite/attitude re interest and focus.
Mark Baptist
Guest
With the public interest, the crowd for day one was 10,929, and CA expect a total attendance of 30k-35k should the Test last five days (we'll see about that): needless to say, all of these figures are dreadful.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think the 2019 Ashes was problematic for Usman. He had some technical issues re chasing after the "edges". That said, he was no orphan, but selection approach being what it is, because he was "the chosen one" re being dropped, that dropping then saw his cards marked for a period of time. It's an oddity of Australian selection, the way it works. Fail but keep your spot, then you're front and centre re ongoing selection (the "incumbency paradox"). But be the one who is dropped (when it could have been any of a few), then that "dropped" stigma is one that you carry around as a black mark for some time, until you have done your penance!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Faf has signed for the Scorchers. But let that not distract us from the Tests!
bungeye
Roar Rookie
Bring on the T20s!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I heard she slept through the whole thing. Good to see she is aligned with the majority of the WA population re interest :thumbup:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Oh. I just figured the chicken was peck-ish.