‘Don’t like seeing it’: Ex-Aussie captain slams Marnus Labuschagne act

A former Australian captain has called out Marnus Labuschagne over a bizarre act to start the summer, declaring “I really wish he wouldn’t”.

He’s the energiser bunny of Australian cricket, but Marnus Labuschagne has been urged to tone things down ahead of a bumper summer of cricket.

The Sheffield Shield is in full swing and more eyes are on the domestic four-day matches than usual, given there is at least one spot up for grabs in the Aussie Test side for a blockbuster series against India.

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Steve Smith’s opening experiment appears over — the 35-year-old is set to drop back down to his favoured spot at No. 4 — the only problem is he can’t buy a run at the moment.

NSW teenager Sam Konstas has put his hand up for a Test debut, while Josh Inglis has made consecutive centuries for Western Australia to stake his claim as a batsman.

South Australia’s Nathan Sweeney has scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72 but doesn’t open the batting.

But the sight of Labuschagne bowling medium pace has caught the eyes of many cricket fans.

Labuschagne, Australia’s Test No. 3, is Queensland’s captain and has brought himself on to bowl a handful of overs in his side’s first two Shield matches.

Watch Marnus Labuschagne’s bizarre Sheffield Shield antics in the video above

Marnus has been letting his medium pacers rip. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Stick to the leggies, Marnus. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The 30-year-old is a handy part-time legspinner and has taken 12 Test wickets bowling spin.

But so far this Shield season he appears intent on steaming in to bowl seam-up, despite Queensland’s attack featuring former Australian representatives Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson and Jack Wildermuth.

Labuschagne took two lower order wickets against Western Australia, but former Australian Test captain Tim Paine is concerned his old teammate could injure himself.

“I really wish he wouldn’t (bowl pace),” Paine told the Cricket Et Al podcast.

“His leg spin is much better and I’ve told him this a billion times privately.

“If you want someone to come on and take a wicket in a Test match, his leg spin is worth its weight in gold, if he’s working on it enough — even a little bit.

“If he runs in, in a Shield game bowling these bouncers and tears his side, who’s batting at three?

“I don’t like seeing it. There’s no need for it, they’ve got enough bowlers in that (Queensland) team. Bowl your legspinners Marnus, or don’t bowl at all. Please don’t get injured.”

Marnus Labuschagne appeals unsuccessfully during the Sheffield Shield. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

In a tongue-in-cheek interview with The Grade Cricketer, Labuschagne was asked: “Do you think the nation wants to see you bowl?”

He joked: “I think so. They think energy, you know. What are we going to get here?

“Are you going to get the No. 3 of Australia rolling in and bouncing Virat Kohli? People want to see that.

“You want to see, can you play on someone’s ego? Are you going to be ducking bouncers from Marnus?”

Sam Perry asked: “Have you taken a wicket bowling seam up in Test cricket?”

Labuschagne said: “Nah, I haven’t.”

Perry said: “I think you should bowl leg spin. What do you think about that?”

“Are you going to be ducking bouncers from Marnus?” Photo: Channel 7.

Labuschagne said: “I mean, if there’s rough (on the pitch). But I’m happy to throw in whatever. Whatever the team needs. I’d love to hit a little 135 (km/h) bouncer.

“Got that in me, I reckon. My highest record is 132km/h. The boys will hate that I said I’ve got a 135 in me.”

It’s highly unlikely Labuschagne’s medium pacers will be called upon during the five-Test series against India, which begins in Perth on November 22.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon will form Australia’s attack, but Mitch Marsh may need to bowl some overs to fill the void left by Cameron Green, who has been ruled out of the series with a stress fracture in his back.