Marnus Labuschagne: The Test match supersub turned middle-order rock

‘Strange bloke, terrific player,’ says Usman Khawaja of a man who has only played seven Tests, is yet to score a ton, saved a Test he wasn’t picked to play in but who is now vital to Australia’s Ashes chances.

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Tim Paine screamed at Marnus Labuschagne. “Don’t be a sook,” the Aussie captain yelled.

For context, it was during a spirited game of touch football at the Derbyshire county cricket ground, in lieu of an actual training session, before this week’s tour match.

Labuschagne, who has shown himself to be anything but a sook after stepping in the gaping Ashes hole left by Steve Smith, was on the opposing side, and Paine was in to him after a fumble.

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Track watchers said it was par for the course, that Labuschagne, the Test supersub turned middle-order rock, a certainty for the fourth Test at Manchester, often “cops it” from his teammates.

Marnus Labuschagne has proved his worth with three innings of substance this Ashes series.

“Marnus is a terrific player. Strange bloke, but terrific player,” his Queensland captain and now Test teammate Usman Khawaja said about an hour later.

Everyone has seen the terrific player in three truly hearty innings, first at Lord’s, after a morning tap on the shoulder inserted him in to the Ashes, and then two more at Headingley.

Labuschagne’s scores of 74 and then 80 were not only his team’s highest scores in the match, they were both more than England’s first innings total of 67.

Standing up to Jofra Archer isn’t easy, but Labuschagne relishes the battle.

The South African born Queenslander was a “like for like” replacement for Smith at Lord’s.

Both leg-spinning right handers, both cricket nuffies. That’s where the “strange bloke” part kicks in.

When he’s not on the field, Labuschagne can readily be found diving through the kit bags of his teammates, analysing their bats with a forensic intent, always on the lookout for a better stick.

He’s got 10 with him in England, including one of his captain Tim Paine’s, which he ripped off in Southampton.

He has one of England captain Joe Root’s old blades in his bag too, courtesy of Root’s brother, a teammate of Labuschagne at county side Glamorgan.

“I love bats, I love the gear, I love talking bats, fine details, changes, handle shapes, how the bat taps, the length of the blade. I love it. I love talking about bats,” he said.

Strange maybe, but look where it’s got him.

If Labuschagne finds a bat he likes, he’s happy to rip off the stickers, put on his Kookaburra decals, plus a couple of other extra special ones.

Labuschagne is a Christian and his faith, like that of coach Justin Langer, is a major part of his life.

He has a favourite bible passage too. It’s Isaiah 40:31.

Even when Steve Smith returns to the side, Labuschagne is certain to keep his own place.

“For those who hope in the Lord, He shall renew their strength,” the passage reads.

“They shall soar on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not be faint.”

To carry that passage with him, Labuschagne designed a picture of an eagle, sourced someone on the internet to make them in to stickers, and whacks them on all his bats.

Labuschagne has soared in his three Ashes innings, he’s not run, not grown weary, nor been faint, not even in the face of several hits to his head, and his body.

England pace spearhead Jofra Archer has hit the body or head of batsmen 19 times since his international debut; at least five of those have been Labuschagne, and only in three innings.

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“Marnus is strange. He seems to like getting hit on the head,” Paine said at Headingley.

There’s that word again, strange.

Ordinary people, however rarely do extraordinary things.

Labuschagne has only played seven Tests, he hasn’t yet got 500 runs, nor has he made a century.

But he’s made a massive impression, on his team, on Australian cricket and on the Ashes.

“It happens quickly. Cricket works that way,” Labuschagne said.

“One minute you're not playing, other minute you are playing. You just have to make sure you're ready.”

Originally published as Marnus Labuschagne: The Test match supersub turned middle-order rock