Australia v India, 4th Test: Labuschagne stars as openers fail in ugly Gabba opening

Marnus Labuschagne rescued Australia from a day of shame at the Gabba - and also sent a message to his critics.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 15: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates scoring a century during day one of the 4th Test Match in the series between Australia and India at The Gabba on January 15, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Marnus Labuschagne hit back at his critics and declared he won’t be changing his quirky ways after breaking a year-long century drought on a gritty first day against India at the Gabba.

The fight for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy hangs in the balance after Labuschagne’s 108 (204 balls) on Friday helped Australia recover from a shaky start to finish 5-274 at stumps on Day 1 of the series-deciding Test.

It was the Queensland batsman’s first Test century since the 2020 New Year Test against New Zealand in Sydney after COVID killed most of last year’s red ball series.

Labuschagne unwittingly found himself at the centre of controversy last week following a television commentary gaffe involving Australian cricketing legends Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds.

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Warne and Symonds were caught criticising Labuschagne’s on-field quirks and making reference to him having “ADD”.

After falling for 91 and 73 at the SCG last week, Labuschagne made India pay for dropping him twice in scoring his fifth Test century and second on home turf.

“My focus is just with the bat,” Labuschagne said when asked about the criticism.

“I know I’m always buzzing and always talking and keeping the energy up in the team. That’s one of the roles I’ve taken up in the team.

Marnus Labuschagne carried the weight of Australia's batting with a terrific century. PICTURE: Getty

“My job is to score runs. I’ve been slightly disappointed I haven’t been able to get a big score. I want to make sure I’m really focussed.

“I’m definitely disappointed not going on and getting a really good score.

“We’ll still take the position we’re in. It’s a really good performance.”

Labuschagne’s innings and a stylish 45 (87) from Matthew Wade put Australia in a stable position to win the fourth and final Test against injury-ravaged India.

With three players on debut and their least experienced bowling attack in 80 years, India struck early to have Australia wobbling at 2-17 before Labuschagne, Steve Smith (36) and Wade steadied the ship.

India captain Ajinkya Rahane spilled Labuschagne at gully on 37 off the bowling of Navdeep Saini (0-21), who strained his groin in the same motion and was sent for scans.

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Labuschagne posted his first century of the summer, in a return to his form of last year. Picture: Getty

Shortly after, Cheteshwar Pujara dropped a tough chance at first slip with Labuschagne on 48. He raced away moments later with three quick boundaries and didn’t look back.

“Indian bowling attacks are very disciplined, it doesn’t matter who is playing, they’re very strategic and well-planned,” Labuschagne said.

“I had to formulate some plans on the run and keep understanding the situation of what they were doing.

“It doesn’t matter who it’s against, you want to make sure you’re scoring hundreds. It’s disappointing I didn’t make it a really big hundred.”

It was going to take a monumental effort for India to win this Test match on the back of captain Virat Kohli’s (parental leave) absence and injuries to Ravi Ashwin (back), Jasprit Bumrah (abs) and Ravindra Jadeja (wrist) among others.

Not since the 1940s has India fielded such an inexperienced bowling line-up and the entire team had only taken a combined total of 13 Test wickets heading into the first day’s play while Australia’s world class attack boasted 1046 scalps.

It was a sorry day for Marcus Harris, who was dismissed cheaply in his return to the team. Picture: Getty

But India has shown tremendous fight this series and did so again late in the day, with debutant quick T Natarajan (2-63) picking up the wickets of Labuschagne and Wade in successive overs to leave the match evenly poised.

After winning the toss and electing to bat on a beautiful Gabba wicket, Australia’s opening fragilities were once again exposed.

Australia has experimented with 24 different opening combinations since 2016 and the David Warner-Marcus Harris alliance once again failed.

Warner’s poor form since returning prematurely from a groin injury continued when he was caught brilliantly by a diving Rohit Sharma at second slip for one off Mohammed Siraj (1-51 ) in the first over.

Warner has only reached 50 in one of his past nine innings, an unbeaten 111 against New Zealand last January.

Harris’ Test form is even worse.

David Warner has struggled to find his best form following a groin injury. Picture: Getty

Called in for the injured Will Pucovski (shoulder), Harris departed softly for five and hasn’t reached 50 in his last 11 innings. His top Test score of 79 came more than two years ago against India.

While Pucovski appears to be the favoured partner for Warner, Australia’s inability to find a successful top order duo is a concern ahead of next month’s tour of South Africa.

The best opening partnership in seven innings this series has been 70, when Australia was chasing 90 to win the first Test in Adelaide. The second best has been 16.

While Labuschagne and Smith relish the contest, they are too often being exposed early in an innings and leaving Australia in precarious positions.

Seemingly fired up after his SCG “pitch tampering” controversy, Smith looked in cruise control before debutant Washington Sundar (1-63) picked up the prized Australian scalp by drawing a stray shot.

Originally published as Australia v India, 4th Test: Labuschagne stars as openers fail in ugly Gabba opening

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