Ashes 2023: Marnus Labuschagne coy on Stuart Broad dismissals in first Test at Edgbaston
‘Frustrated’ by his ‘uncharacteristic’ dismissals against Stuart Broad in the first Test, Marnus Labuschagne has identified where things went wrong for him at Edgbaston, writes DANIEL CHERNY.
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Marnus Labuschagne is keeping his cards close to his chest as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing individual start to the Ashes series.
The Queenslander lost his grip on the ICC’s No. 1 Test batting spot after twice falling cheaply to Stuart Broad in the first Test at Edgbaston, making scores of 0 and 13, both times edging balls to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
It came after Broad had trumpeted pre-series that he had been working on an outswinger specifically to deal with Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
Labuschagne echoed the sentiments of Australian batting coach Michael Di Venuto that his choice of shots had been out of character, suggesting he was comfortable that it would not become a pattern.
“They were very uncharacteristic dismissal to how I’ve usually played, that’s why I was pretty frustrated with myself to get out that way and asked myself the question, ‘why did I play at those deliveries’. I’ve come up with my own summation of what that is,” Labuschagne said.
“Now it’s if there’s anything I can do tactically or technically to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s a rarity that I’d play at those balls so it’s not something I’m going to overthink, but I hold myself to a much higher standard than those dismissals.”
But pressed on why he believed he had played that way, Labuschagne was unwilling to expand.
“I can’t give you everything. With a lack of bounce at Edgbaston it sucks you in to think you can hit the ball a bit more and just made a few poor decisions that were really wide – they’d be eighth or ninth stump some of those deliveries, definitely the second one.”
The Aussie No. 3 said he was prepared to cast aside the first-ball duck he’d made in the first innings.
“When you get out first ball you just throw it in the bag because if you do something on that first ball, the field was set for something, potentially I thought that they were going to come straight and then he got a nice ball that swung in the right area.
“But at the end of the day, prior to this series, I don’t think I’d been dismissed by Stuart Broad so it’s not something I’m overthinking. I’m always working on my game and working on my technique to think of ways I can score runs.”
He was prepared however to give credit to Broad where due.
“He’s two and 0 now so he’s done his homework. That first (and only) ball I got in the first innings was a very nice ball. I haven’t faced Stuart Broad where he’s really been able to swing it away. He usually angles in, and that one definitely swung,” Labuschagne said.
“First ball, most of the time you just play and miss at that then you go ‘okay’, you can make the adjustments out there. I said this about (India’s) Ravi Ashwin, guys who take the time to do the homework, understand the game, and work out how they’re going to get certain guys out, I’ve got so much respect for them so if they’re putting the time and effort in and it pays off, that’s a credit to them.”
Labuschagne had briefly appeared in doubt for the second Test after being felled in the nets on Saturday morning by a throwdown which struck his finger. But he batted on Saturday, downplaying any concerns around his fitness.
“Yeah, there was a bit of carry on. It’s a finger I’ve been hit on a few times. One that (India’s Mohammed) Siraj got. It’s the same finger and it’s already a tender finger. It got me right on the spot. I thought straight away because it was always sore, but it’s pulled up really well. All good.”
Originally published as Ashes 2023: Marnus Labuschagne coy on Stuart Broad dismissals in first Test at Edgbaston
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