Watch: Four years before he became a Test cricketer, Marnus Labuschagne played a small part in Australia’s win over India at the Gabba in 2014, pulling off a stunning one-handed catch as a substitute fielder.
Labuschagne, who’s built an impressive Test resume since his debut two years ago, was then in his first season with Queensland when he was called on to be a sub-fielder during India’s tour to Australia in 2014. He responded with a brilliant effort at short leg to dismiss Varun Aaron off Nathan Lyon.
A year before Labushagne’s super effort, another Queenslander, Chris Sabburg, had gained popularity after taking Kevin Pietersen’s catch as a sub-fielder during the 2013 Ashes.
While that remained Sabburg’s only contribution to Test cricket, Labuschagne graduated to the Baggy Green in 2018 and has since scored four Test centuries, averaging close to 60 in the format.
The 2014 catch wasn’t without controversy though: as pointed out by certain users on Twitter, replays showed that he might have grazed the ball on the pitch after grabbing it. Further, according to ESPNcricinfo‘s dismissal summary, there were doubts whether the HotSpot on the bat was off an inside edge, or from the bat brushing the front pad. It was a brilliant effort nonetheless, playing a small part in Australia’s four-wicket win.
Watch the incredible catch:
Marnus Labuschagne was making an impact in Test cricket before he was a Test cricketer!
He took this catch as a sub in 2014.pic.twitter.com/EnZfR6e3U0
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 4, 2020
