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Watch: Marnus Labuschagne bowls Usman Khawaja in grade cricket, celebrates vociferously

by Wisden Staff September 11, 2021 - 4:02pm 2 minute read

Watch: Two Australia batsmen faced off in grade cricket last week, with Marnus Labuschagne getting the better of Usman Khawaja in their head-to-head duel.

The incumbent No.3, who has taken 12 Test wickets with his leg-spin, clean-bowled the man whose last appearance came just as Labuschagne was emerging as a player of note. A concussion sub at Lord’s, twin half-centuries at Headingley confirmed Labuschagne as a talent worth watching, but Khawaja hasn’t played since following Australia’s galling one-wicket defeat at the hands of Ben Stokes and England.

The two faced off in Queensland Premier Cricket, with Labuschagne turning out for Redlands and Khawaja for Valley in the Sci-Fleet Motors First Grade Competition. Valley batted first, with Khawaja cruising to a half-century opening the batting. Labuschagne hit back, bamboozling his sometime teammate with a lovely delivery that pegged back his off-stump, before jumping, punching the air and howling in trademark Marnus fashion.

“Look at Marnus,” said the on-air commentator. “He’s jumping around. He’s celebrating like he’s just got a wicket in Test cricket. It doesn’t matter what level he’s playing at, he could be playing fifth grade down the park and he’d be carrying on like that.”

The rest of the game did not go to plan for Labuschagne and his team however. Khawaja’s was the only wicket he took, finishing with expensive figures of 1-94 in his 10 overs. It was another Australia international, Jack Wildermuth, who played the match’s defining hand, scoring an 88-ball 113, and when Labuschagne came out to bat he could manage only 6, with Redlands losing by 34.