Marnus Labuschagne scored his sixth Test ton and first in the Ashes as Australia continued to dominate England in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide.
Follow Us
Marnus Labuschagne continued his magnificent form as he smashed his sixth Test hundred to reassert Australia’s dominance in the Pink Ball Ashes Test in Adelaide. The second Test has been historic for Labuschagne, having become the second-quickest to go past 2000 runs. With this knock, Labuschagne’s average at home is 77.38 which is just behind Sir Don Bradman.
Labuschagne’s love affair with England also continued. Ever since he came on as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2019, the right-hander has been in sparkling form. He had four consecutive fifty scores that began at Lord’s and continued till Manchester. Labuschagne was the concussion substitute after Steve Smith was hit on the head by a bouncer from Jofra Archer. He contributed 59 in the second innings as Australia held on for a draw. In the match at Leeds, he scored 74 and 80 while at Manchester, he chipped in with 67.
During the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Labuschagne scored 74 as Australia won by nine wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes.
Australia had chosen to bat in the Pink Ball Test and they lost Marcus Harris cheaply again. It was a tough grind for David Warner and Labuschagne as England’s bowlers maintained a tight line. Warner and Labuschagne made slow progress, but it was the left-hander Warner who broke the shackles.
Warner, who was suffering from a rib injury, showed no signs of discomfort. He latched on to the short ball and drove at will. Labuschagne, on the other hand, continued to grind the bowlers. Warner fell short of a ton as he fell for 95, the second time he was out in the 90s in the series.
Labuschagne was joined by Steve Smith. The apprentice was now with the master and they looked to pile on the agony for England. The visitors did not make things easy for themselves. Labuschagne was dropped on 85 by Jos Buttler. On the second day, Labuschagne reached his century by guiding James Anderson to the third man fence.
England made things worse when Ollie Robinson overstepped when Labuschagne was on 102.
Australia has never lost a Pink Ball Test, having won all seven matches. In the 2017 Ashes Pink Ball Test, Shaun Marsh smashed a century and it was Mitchell Starc who took a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Australia won the match by 120 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes. Eventually, they won the series 4-0.
Steve Smith, who led the side at that time, is now back in charge after Pat Cummins was forced into isolation due to a coronavirus scare. For Labuschagne, this was his sixth century at home. The fact that he dominates at home in such a big way makes Labuschagne a special player. The only thing that he may want to correct is scoring a century away from home.
With this knock, Labuschagne’s average is now near 65 and is much better than Smith. However, as the session progressed, Robinson trapped Labuschagne LBW for 103.
