Marnus Labuschagne blasted 192 and New South Wales were totally blown away by a Queensland side who have won the Sheffield Shield for the first time since 2018.
Follow Us
The Sheffield Shield final between New South Wales and Queensland at the Allan Border Field witnessed a masterclass from one individual. The New South Wales bowling attack consisted of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. This Australian bowling attack is the best in the business. They were only missing David Warner and Steve Smith, who are away on IPL duties. Yet, as has been the case in the 2020/21 season, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon were blunted. In the Tests, it was Cheteshwar Pujara. In the Sheffield Shield final, it was Marnus Labuschagne.
Just like how Pujara liked to grind the Australian bowlers down, similarly, Labuschagne fancied himself to score a ton against New South Wales. It was his third century of the season against New South Wales and on the big stage, he delivered the ultimate knock-out blow. Consider this, no batsmen from both sides crossed fifty. Only Labuschagne scored a hundred. That too against Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon. Add a tricky pitch into the equation.
The coronavirus pandemic and the postponed tour of South Africa has resulted in Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon plying their duties in the Sheffield Shield. Hazlewood opted out of the IPL due to the bio-bubble fatigue. Starc also did not want to be part of the IPL while Lyon did not put his name up. In such a situation, New South Wales were expected to trump a Queensland side that had only Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns with international experience.
With no Warner and Smith, New South Wales were totally undone in their batting. In the first innings, only Kurtis Patterson managed 43 as Michael Neser and Jake Wildermuth tore the line-up. Neser, who has not featured in many Tests, ended with 5/27 while Wildermuth managed 4/21. When New South Wales were bowled out for 143, the game was up.
However, Labuschagne buried the game for New South Wales. His compelling duel with Lyon resulted in the offspinner acknowledging his batting. In fact, after the end of the day, Lyon said that Labuschagne had offered a blueprint to young batsmen in the country as to how to bat.
His partnerships of 127, 60, 86 and 52 for the second, third, fourth and fifth wickets were sensational. In fact, Labuschagne said the way he built up tempo for the innings was his best.
His 192 gave Queensland a lead of 246. In the second innings, New South Wales’ batsmen failed to yet again score a fifty. Mitchell Swepson, Xavier Bartlett and Brendan Doggett all combined to take nine wickets between themselves. Queensland had won the Sheffield Shield title comprehensively by an innings and 33 runs.
New South Wales are the behemoth of the Sheffield Shield with 47 titles in the 129-year history of the competition. A strong and powerful New South Wales is essential for a dominant Australia. The talent that has come out of the state for years has been testament to it.
Yet, Queensland have matched New South Wales when it comes to success. Labuschagne is the symbol of that new-found belief. Ever since coming on as a concussion substitute in the cauldron of the Ashes in 2019, Labuschagne has been sensational. Centuries against New Zealand, Pakistan and India have only confirmed his brilliance. He is now a pivotal No.3 for Australia. Along with Steve Smith, he is now the deadly duo in the Australian batting.
The Sheffield Shield success is another addition to Labuschagne’s brilliance. It is time that we acknowledge him as one of the best in the business in Australia currently.
Rishabh Pant's explosive last-over blitz ignites IPL 2024 amid T20 World Cup comeback talks
