The accidental tourist: Marnus makes most of chance after subbing in for concussed Green as Aussies edge out Proteas

By News / Wire

Marnus Labuschagne wants to be the man Australia’s one-day team turns to in the middle order after his majestic unbeaten 80 clinched a three-wicket win over South Africa in the Bloemfontein ODI.

Labuschagne started Thursday’s clash (Friday morning AEST) out of Australia’s starting XI and finished it collecting the player-of-the-match award after being activated as Cameron Green’s concussion substitute part-way through the run chase.

Labuschagne hopes the innings can prove the turning point in his endeavours to repair his faltering white-ball game.

“When I came back from the Ashes, I had three to four weeks off, then went back to the drawing board and really thought about what I wanted to improve in my one-day game,” said Labuschagne, whose 53.36 Test average dwarfs the 31.37 he had averaged in ODIs before his Bloemfontein knock.

“That’s gone really downhill and I really didn’t like that,” he said.

Marnus Labuschagme. (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

“I’ve been really disappointed with the way I’ve played my one-day cricket the last 10 to 12 games.

“I haven’t shown the intensity and courage that I would have liked.

“I wasn’t too shocked when I was dropped, I said that to the selectors, ‘I understand, I haven’t made runs’.

“I did say I still want to be that person for you batting in the middle order.

“I addressed a few things that I wanted to improve on.”

Australia had bowled out South Africa for 222 – an innings held together brilliantly by captain Temba Bavuma, who became just the 13th opener and second South African – after Herschelle Gibbs in 2000 – to carry his bat in an ODI innings with his unbeaten 114.

But in their reply, Australia lost a soldier in the sixth over when Green was thumped in the helmet by a vicious Kagiso Rabada bumper.

It was the cue for Labuschagne to rise from the bench and bat with both purpose and calmness.

“The opportunity that comes when you’re concussion sub is sometimes a bit of a free hit,” he said.

“The pressure of the game is still there but the expectation is probably not as much on you.

“It was nice to contribute today even though at the start of the day I wasn’t even in the side.”

Still, wickets tumbled around him as Australia stumbled to 7-113 in the 17th over. Labuschagne was joined by Ashton Agar and the duo batted sensibly, appearing largely untroubled as they added 112 in a magnificent, unbroken eighth-wicket stand.

“We haven’t batted much together, or at all,” Labuschagne said. “It was a lot of fun.

“He’s a very relaxed character and he showed great patience, great concentration and just stuck to that plan.

“We kept each other going to not get out of our bubble and not force it too much.”

Labuschagne, famously, became the first concussion sub in Test history when he replaced Steve Smith during the Lord’s Test of the 2019 Ashes series, which proved a defining moment of his career.

He also was originally left out of this ODI series and was only recalled because of Smith’s wrist injury.

Timing is everything.

Labuschagne missed selection in Australia’s 15-man squad for the upcoming World Cup but he will be willing and ready to jump in should a vacancy arise.

“You’ve just got to sit tight and wait for your opportunities,” he said.

“When the opportunity comes you’ve got to be ready.”

Earlier, Bavuma had defied leg cramps and a difficult pitch to post his fifth ODI century and single-handedly give his team hope, with Josh Hazlewood (3-41) and Stoinis (2-20) proving Australia’s best with the ball.

The Crowd Says:

2023-09-11T02:03:33+00:00

Opeo

Roar Rookie


Tempo, BigGordon, thanks for the explanations.

2023-09-10T23:42:42+00:00

Lance Boil

Roar Rookie


I read the news today oh boy.

2023-09-10T12:35:54+00:00

Deano

Roar Rookie


He clearly is, Tom, because he's got two MOTMs in a row. Oh, hang on, that was Marnus, wasn't it. Oops. Trying to think of a world in which Hardie is a better batsman than Marnus. Nope; nothing.

2023-09-10T02:21:16+00:00

Don Freo

Roar Rookie


You don't quite have a grasp on the varied roles within a team. Fielding and bat also have a degree of significance in the game of cricket...in all 3 formats... The aim of the game, Lance.

2023-09-10T02:05:22+00:00

Lance Boil

Roar Rookie


The difference in economy rate is marginal However, strike rate and average shows a bigger difference distinctly in favour of Zampa. Like taking wickets is kinda the aim of bowling but we'll you know

2023-09-09T18:16:41+00:00

Don Freo

Roar Rookie


Confession?

2023-09-09T14:59:00+00:00

Tom


Delusional

2023-09-09T05:24:29+00:00

Michael Coote

Roar Rookie


No Stokes should not be replaced by a bowler and he should no longer be regarded as an Allrounder. He is now a Middle Order Batsman who bowls some handy overs and he is good enough to play for England as such. Joe Root is closer to being an allrounder right now than Stokes, bowled 53 overs in the Ashes compared to Stokes 29. Maybe the ICC should have every player nominate their concussion replacement before the match to ensure it doesn't get abused.

2023-09-09T05:04:12+00:00

Michael Coote

Roar Rookie


Here is a good question, if Australia had batted first and Green was hit in the 49th over, who replaces him, Labuschagne or Cummins?

2023-09-09T04:53:14+00:00

Michael Coote

Roar Rookie


For once I agree with Don, don't believe Marnus was a suitable replacement for Green, different type of player, Hardie should have played, a true one for one replacement.

2023-09-09T01:27:59+00:00

Insult_2_Injury

Roar Rookie


Good Ole Marnus, the real role model for young players. Admits he deserved to be dropped, made himself available for an opportunity and took it with both hands……hitting thru the line of the ball on a goat track, rather than cement feet, chopping on from a metre outside off! Ably supported by Agar too. Never underestimate the value of a partnership either, in this slap happy reinvention of cricket. All proves sport is 90% mental!

2023-09-09T00:21:20+00:00

Don Freo

Roar Rookie


Yes he is.

2023-09-09T00:20:31+00:00

Don Freo

Roar Rookie


You must be looking at some maths spreadsheets. Stats record history, they don't point to anything current. Watch some cricket. Look at what has got Hardie selected. Look at what got Labs dropped. Allan Border has good numbers too but you'd never pick him ahead of Teague Wyllie in 2023. Wyllie is better.

2023-09-08T23:13:39+00:00

Tom


We wouldn't have got them at all, he averages 24 in List A cricket...

2023-09-08T23:12:01+00:00

Tom


No he isn't, Don.

2023-09-08T23:09:55+00:00

Tom


Hardie is better than Marnus based on what? He averages 24 in List A cricket… 1 single score over 50 in 16 innings. That is a ludicrous take.

2023-09-08T22:11:05+00:00

Tempo

Roar Rookie


Yes, they may even have allowed his replacement by a specialist bowler (say if he got concussed at the very end of the innings so no requirement to bat). But most likely Hardie in that instance I’d have thought.

2023-09-08T11:59:31+00:00

Don Freo

Roar Rookie


Only from those who think the internet belongs to the east. Those of us who know sport, talk sport. Comments like yours matter to no one but yourself. You add nothing to the conversation. Fancy taking time to mock Agar's performance last night and then hope someone wants to talk cricket with you. If you don't know the game, better to butt out.

2023-09-08T11:47:58+00:00

Mr Right

Roar Rookie


I have no problem with WA players of any sport being selected at the highest levels. As long as they are deserving of their selection. Your long term bias towards WA sportsmen is the reason why no one pays attention when you continually spruke them as being deserving of that selection.

2023-09-08T11:41:38+00:00

Mr Right

Roar Rookie


We all know your preference would be to have an Australian team full of WA players lose the World Cup that have the best team of Australian players win the World Cup. Your priorities are different to most Australian sports fans, so that is why you receive a lot of feedback regarding your sports view on this website.

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