Latest news with #MarnusLabuschagne
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cricket world erupts over Marnus Labuschagne moment as Aussies win first Test
Marnus Labuschagne might have been dropped for the first cricket Test between Australia and the West Indies, but he's shown he's still a valuable member of the squad. The Aussie batter produced a stunning run-out in Barbados on Friday as the tourists ran through the West Indies order to win on day three. Stationed at mid-off as a substitute fielder, Labuschagne ran out Alzarri Joseph with a brilliant direct hit. Joseph was burned by teammate Justin Greaves after he hit the ball to Labuschagne and set off for a quick single. Joseph wasn't quick enough to react, and Labuschagne's throw found him well short of his ground. It left the Windies at 7-73 and well short of their target of 301 for victory. "He might not be in the XI but he's still putting up his hand to contribute," the commentator said on ESPN. It came after former Aussie captain Mark Taylor called for Labuschgane to fly home from the Caribbean instead of remaining in the squad. But his fielding efforts on Friday showed why he's staying put. "Come back, have a bit of time off from the game, just refresh," Taylor said. "That wouldn't be a bad thing. Get ready for the Australian summer." Cricket fans flocked to social media in awe of Labuschagne's run-out. He received widespread praise for staying ready to contribute, rather than wallowing in the misery of getting dropped. Oh look substitute Marnus with a direct hit from the same position. Contributing even though he's not playing XI. — The Divine Beard (@Gerrardicted) June 27, 2025 Labuschagne still finds a way to have an impact 💪 — Simon (@Knight_Ryders) June 27, 2025 The forgotten man, Marnus, still making a difference!#Australia #WIvAUS — 工レ丹几 (@Crackers2) June 27, 2025 You can take Marnus out of the xi but not out of the game 🎯 — Shamilinho🇦🇺🇧🇷 (@shamilzaiin) June 27, 2025 Labuschagne's run-out helped the Aussies score a 159-run victory after a stunning turnaround in the second innings. After being dismissed for 180 and conceding a 10-run lead in the first dig, the Aussie batters produced a much better effort in the second. After another woeful start in which they slumped to 4-65, Travis Head, Alex Carey and Beau Webster righted the ship on day three. Head made 61 off 95 balls, while Carey made 65 off 75 and Webster 63 off 120. RELATED: Windies bowler hit with punishment over act towards Pat Cummins Pat Cummins breaks Aussie cricket tradition before first Test Their batting heroics led the Aussies to a much more respectable total of 310 in the second innings, setting the Windies 301 to win. But the hosts never looked likely, with Josh Hazlewood decimating their top order. Hazlewood took 5-43 in a stunning display of line and length, leaving the cricket world in awe. The Aussie veteran dismissed John Campbell (23), Keacy Carty (20), Brandon King (golden duck), Roston Chase (2) and Jomel Warrican (3) as the Windies were bowled out for just 141. It was another insipid display after they only made 190 in the first innings. Only some late hitting from Shamar Joseph (44 off 22) and Greaves (38 not out off 53) saved the hosts from a sub-100 total, but Nathan Lyon finished the job late on day three. Lyon got Joseph caught at first slip, before dismissing Jayden Seales for a golden duck on the very next delivery. "(Hazlewood) just hits the right area, ball after ball, presents good seam. He was fantastic," said captain Pat Cummins after the result on day three.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Is Kane Williamson the best No 3, far ahead of a generation of slipping, stumbling No 3s?
In between all the major matches of the month that saw the close of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle and the commencement of a new edition, a specific conundrum plagued the top 4 Test teams in the running. Australia, South Africa, England, and India have all contemplated and attempted to address this persistent post-COVID predicament in their most recent outings. When Australia forced a struggling Marnus Labuschagne out to open in the WTC final against South Africa at Lord's, they were only conforming to the developing pattern of troubles for Test cricket's No. 3 this decade. After shuffling between 11 players at the position in the last four years, the Proteas drafted seam all-rounder Wiaan Mulder up to the spot in their three recent matches, including the WTC final, with minimal success. After the slump of Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill's wavering run at 3 until his captaincy takeover, India ushered in Sai Sudharsan as the latest try-out against England at Headingley. The left-hander became the first of 18 Indian batters to have recorded a duck on Test debut at No. 3. Resisting most to the temptation were England, sticking to their 35-averaging Ollie Pope over a precocious Jacob Bethell offering, and Pope turned up with his ninth Test ton at Leeds. The hallowed stable of the legendary Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and Kumar Sangakkara has witnessed marked degeneration with each passing decade this century. The collective batting average of Test cricket's No. 3s has plummeted below 35 in 190 Tests in the last four years, a staggering dip from the 44.77 average across the first 461 Tests this century (between 2001-10). While batters across the nine WTC-playing countries have encountered harsher conditions more frequently in the last six years, no position in the top six has been under greater scrutiny than the man marked one down, primed to compose all flavours of batting into that one revered spot that has also witnessed the highest individual score (400*) in history. With as many games played in the WTC as in the five years before it began in mid-2019, no top-6 batting position has witnessed a decline in average runs by more than two, except the No. 3s, poorer by 4.6 runs/innings. The 2020s mark a period where one cannot truly brand and bracket any No. 3 into the same exalted club as their predecessors. There are few exceptions, but none without their chinks and specific filters to define success. Not too long ago, Labuschagne was galloping over every No.3 with distinction, averaging 66 (high of 82.61 while crossing 1000 runs) after 44 innings in early 2023. The 45 innings since have drawn a phenomenal freefall, with his averages dropping down to 48.83 at No. 3. Labuschagne's successor in the role, Cameron Green, has endured an iffy initiation, scoring no more than 15 in his first four innings. It is curious how the drop-offs affected the health of this particular top-order position to such a degree. It can be argued that they brave tougher new-ball spells in this era, but with openers and first-wicket stands not sustaining a striking dip in overall contributions in the two periods, it all narrows to the faulty one-down bats. Even the stoic Pujara's defences were breached more often at home, his overseas shares failing to string consistent knocks together. Between 2012 and 2019, Pujara tallied 5151 runs at exactly 50.0 at No. 3 with 17 centuries and 21 half-centuries – averaging 60.39 at home, and 39.82 away. In his last 26 Tests between 2020-23, Pujara raised 1306 at 30.37 at No. 3 – 928 of them overseas at 36.89. Among the most prolific run-scorers at home in his prime, the Saurashtra batter got 314 home Test runs at a meagre 24.15 average in this phase. Having topped the charts for most runs at No. 3 between 2011-19, Kane Williamson averaged 54.57 in that period across 68 Tests. The Kiwi averaged north of 60 at home and forged an equally impressive haul with more runs (3013) away, averaging 49.33 with 10 centuries. The former Black Caps skipper has only buttressed his record at No. 3 with a staggering 71-plus average in the last five years, alien to the rest of the miserable No. 3 syndicate. But in a heavily skewed aggregation, Williamson has courted Bradmanesque levels at home in this time, smashing 1948 at 88.54 – making up 71 per cent of his total runs since 2020. Limited to only 16 away innings in this time, Williamson accorded 668 runs adjusted to 44.53 but heavily influenced by an unbeaten 200 not out on a Karachi flatbed three years ago. India skipper Gill and England's Pope are the only other active No. 3s to cross 1000 runs since 2020, with their uncannily identical averages at 37.74/37.75, respectively, suggesting inconsistent players capable of the occasional spurt of brilliance. With 'C/*' captaincy added to his profile, Gill has subtly moved down the roster, turned a corner and opened an entirely new chapter in his red-ball career. Despite his first-innings hundred against India last week, it is unclear whether Pope can pontificate Bazball through the whole summer, all the way to an away Ashes and beyond. Test cricket batting seems to be holding shape for now. But its No. 3s are in desperate need of that liberator, the one glorious figure to define a generation and lay down the standards for the rest of the world to catch up to. Lalith Kalidas is a Senior Sub-Editor with the sports team of The Indian Express. Working with the online sports desk, Lalith specializes in the happenings on the cricket field, with a particular interest in India's domestic cricket circle. He also carries an affinity towards data-driven stories and often weaves them into cricketing contexts through his analysis. Lalith also writes the weekly stats-based cricket column - 'Stats Corner'. A former cricketer who has played in state-level tournaments in Kerala, he has over three years of experience as a sports journalist. Lalith also covered the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. ... Read More
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Australian great Ian Healy questions impact of batting coach Michael Di Venuto
Australian cricket great Ian Healy has taken aim at national batting coach Michael Di Venuto, claiming the top six has 'regressed' under his tutelage. The West Indies made light work of the Aussie top order again on Thursday, reducing the tourists to 4-93 after bowling them out for 180 on day one. It follows scores of 212 and 207 in the World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa earlier this month. Australia dropped the out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne for Sam Konstas, but the teenager has scratched out just eight runs across two innings. Healy doesn't like to 'put the pump on coaches' but says the Aussies have gone backwards with the bat under Di Venuto. 'I love to put it back onto the players more than coaches usually,' Healy said on SENQ Breakfast. 'But, as I said, Australian cricket's batting head coach and every state batting coach (should be under pressure) because there's not enough runs being scored around the nation either. 'Michael Di Venuto – a friend of mine who is a good coach and a good man – has held the job since mid-2021. 'In this time, our national team batting has regressed in performance at Test level, that's all that's important to me, the performance. 'I don't care how you do it or what will make it easier for you – just get it done.' Konstas in particular has made a jumpy return to Test cricket. He was dropped twice in the opening over of the second innings before defaulting to his aggressive stride down the wicket approach. Healy says the Aussies' look nervous and have seemingly little trust in their technique. 'They're not making it easy for themselves at all, players have got to deal better with nerves by the sound of it,' Healy said. 'They need to create sound techniques and bat with balance so you can make really sound decisions ball after ball for long periods. 'At the moment, we're failing many of these points, and the lower order is having to deal with it either recovering the score or losing. 'It's just too hard at the moment, we've got to clear those minds of our top order.'
Daily Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
‘They're scared': England growing in confidence watching Australia vs West Indies
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. On the back of Australia's embarrassing five-wicket World Test Championship final defeat, the Aussie Test side now finds themselves on the brink of yet another loss, this time to the West Indies. And with another underwhelming display, England smell blood in the water ahead of the Ashes Down Under later this year. West Indies vs. Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. At stumps on Day 2, in Australia's first Test against the West Indies in Barbados, the visitors are 4/92, with Travis Head (13) and Beau Webster (19) unbeaten at the close of play. Australia leads by just 82 runs and will need their middle-order and tailenders to help them get out of jail if they are to avoid back-to-back losses to the Windies. Sam Konstas – who was rushed in to replace the out-of-form Marnus Labushcagne – has managed scores of just 3 and 5. While Cam Green, who is viewed as Australia's long-term No. 3, didn't fare much better. After escaping a potentially fortunate LBW review on Thursday (AEST), the West Australian inexplicably flashed at a wide delivery off Justin Greaves, which he edged and was caught with ease in slips for 15. England have sounded an ominous warning to Australia ahead of the upcoming Ashes series. Image: Getty Safe to say slotting him in at No. 3, has not been the instant success Australian selectors would have hoped for. Since coming back into the team he has scores of 4, 0, 3 and today's 15. While Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis and Steve Smith – who is out of the opening Test with injury – have all been struggling for runs. And with the top-order crisis, the Poms are growing in confidence, with England great Michael Vaughan suggesting they may now even be favourites to win back the Ashes on enemy territory. 'I've had a few messages overnight from Australia and they know that this England side, and I'm not saying that they're going to arrive as favourites, but the Australian public and supporters over there are watching this England side and going 'this could be the team who can challenge Australia in their own backyard',' Vaughan said on Betfair's Stick to Cricket show. Australia's Sam Konstas is bowled by West Indies' Shamar Joseph on day two. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) England pull off incredible run chase against India While Australia's batters whimper, the Poms' top-order are all making runs. In the first Test against India, England reeled in a massive target of 371 to beat India by five wickets. The seismic chase was the second-highest in England's history after knocking off 378 against India at Edgbaston three years ago. And with the England top 7 all showing they have big scores in them, Vaughan believes they can put on a cricket clinic when the Ashes start in November. 'That top seven now should be the seven who walk out in November in Perth. That looks to me like a top seven, and I look at the last time England won in Australia in 2010/11, that top seven when England arrived was rock-solid,' Vaughan continued. 'It was full of experience, Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior and it's got a similar kind of feel, where they're going to arrive in Australia, I hope, with a lot of experience. Ben Duckett of England celebrates his century during Day Five as England secure huge win over India. (Photo by) ' … This was the first week where I've watched England and thought 'ooft'. They've now added some smartness and brains to the batting, the field always spreads for them because the opposition are scared. 'Zak Crawley's innings was the perfect example of this, his alignment was perfect and then he was scoring ones because Ben Duckett was playing great. Getting him back on strike. 'Every time Bumrah came into the attack, you could see that England had a real mindset of 'just play'. 'The six overs that they had to face on the fourth evening, you go back over the last two or three years, they think 'woah, wheyy, we'll get to 50' but they've definitely added a little bit of nous.' Originally published as 'They're scared': England growing in confidence that they can take home Ashes from Australia's backyard
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Ooft': England growing in confidence that they can take home Ashes from Australia's backyard
On the back of Australia's embarrassing five-wicket World Test Championship final defeat, the Aussie Test side now finds themselves on the brink of yet another loss, this time to the West Indies. And with another underwhelming display, England smell blood in the water ahead of the Ashes Down Under later this year. At stumps on Day 2, in Australia's first Test against the West Indies in Barbados, the visitors are 4/92, with Travis Head (13) and Beau Webster (19) unbeaten at the close of play. Australia leads by just 82 runs and will need their middle-order and tailenders to help them get out of jail if they are to avoid back-to-back losses to the Windies. Sam Konstas – who was rushed in to replace the out-of-form Marnus Labushcagne – has managed scores of just 3 and 5. While Cam Green, who is viewed as Australia's long-term No. 3, didn't fare much better. After escaping a potentially fortunate LBW review on Thursday (AEST), the West Australian inexplicably flashed at a wide delivery off Justin Greaves, which he edged and was caught with ease in slips for 15. Safe to say slotting him in at No. 3, has not been the instant success Australian selectors would have hoped for. Since coming back into the team he has scores of 4, 0, 3 and today's 15. While Usman Khawaja, Josh Inglis and Steve Smith – who is out of the opening Test with injury – have all been struggling for runs. And with the top-order crisis, the Poms are growing in confidence, with England great Michael Vaughan suggesting they may now even be favourites to win back the Ashes on enemy territory. 'I've had a few messages overnight from Australia and they know that this England side, and I'm not saying that they're going to arrive as favourites, but the Australian public and supporters over there are watching this England side and going 'this could be the team who can challenge Australia in their own backyard',' Vaughan said on Betfair's Stick to Cricket show. England pull off incredible run chase against India While Australia's batters whimper, the Poms' top-order are all making runs. In the first Test against India, England reeled in a massive target of 371 to beat India by five wickets. The seismic chase was the second-highest in England's history after knocking off 378 against India at Edgbaston three years ago. And with the England top 7 all showing they have big scores in them, Vaughan believes they can put on a cricket clinic when the Ashes start in November. 'That top seven now should be the seven who walk out in November in Perth. That looks to me like a top seven, and I look at the last time England won in Australia in 2010/11, that top seven when England arrived was rock-solid,' Vaughan continued. 'It was full of experience, Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior and it's got a similar kind of feel, where they're going to arrive in Australia, I hope, with a lot of experience. ' … This was the first week where I've watched England and thought 'ooft'. They've now added some smartness and brains to the batting, the field always spreads for them because the opposition are scared. 'Zak Crawley's innings was the perfect example of this, his alignment was perfect and then he was scoring ones because Ben Duckett was playing great. Getting him back on strike. 'Every time Bumrah came into the attack, you could see that England had a real mindset of 'just play'. 'The six overs that they had to face on the fourth evening, you go back over the last two or three years, they think 'woah, wheyy, we'll get to 50' but they've definitely added a little bit of nous.'
