Australia lineup in their second Test against India with just one seam bowler in their ranks, having instead selected three spinners including debutant Matthew Kuhnemann. If the pitch proves not to turn quite as much as expected however, Labuschagne’s medium pace which proved too much for Nottinghamshire batters last year could be an unexpected option for Pat Cummins to turn to.

Playing for Glamorgan in the opening round of Division Two of the English first-class competition, the No.1 batter in the ICC Test rankings was brought onto bowl on day one of the match at Trent Bridge. Having conceded two runs off his first over, it was at the end of his second that Labuschagne struck, dismissing Tom Moores with a ball that slid across him. Moores managed to get an outside edge on the ball which went through to the keeper.

He then dismissed England Test opener Ben Duckett, who had already registered a century, taking a catch off his own bowling. Labuschagne bowled a full delivery which Duckett looked to defend, but instead, he managed to chip the ball back to the bowler at around shoulder height to his right. The Australian then wheeled away in celebration having taken two wickets in consecutive overs and dismissed the set batter in Duckett.

After sending down a barrage of short-pitched bowling to compatriot James Pattinson, one of which struck the former Australia Test cricketer on the arm, Labuschagne finished with figures of 5-0-11-2. He played a vital part in restricting Notts’ first innings total to 302 all-out, Glamorgan going on to win the game by seven wickets.

At the time, Australia captain Cummins took to Twitter to jokingly say “We are never going to hear the end of this are we” to his teammate. If Cummins has indeed not forgotten, he could end up bowling in tandem with Labuschagne in Delhi.

Watch: The 2022 Marnus Labuschagne County Championship dismissal of Ben Duckett that proves his seam-bowling potential

 

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