Marnus Labuschagne guides Australia to ODI win as concussion sub

A premonition from his mum came true as Marnus Labuschagne produced a performance to make Australian selectors have a World Cup rethink.

Marnus Labuschagne’s mum told her son she had “a feeling” he was going to play in the opening ODI against South Africa, and she ended up being right after Cameron Green’s World Cup preparation took a literal hit in Bloemfontein.

Australia’s first Test concussion sub, Labuschagne, who was left out of the all-rounder heavy team, was called on to fill that role again when Green was struck in the helmet second ball by a vicious Kagiso Rabada bouncer.

Green was forced to retire hurt after the blow in the sixth over and was sent for a precautionary scan. He’s entered the eight-day concussion protocols, meaning he won’t be available until the final match of the series, adding his name to the list of underdone World Cup squad members.

Cameron Green receives medical attention after being struck by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP

Knowing he needed to make the most of an opportunity to give himself any chance of breaking into the 15-man World Cup squad, Labuschagne rescued his team, making an unbeaten 80 as he and Ashton Agar (42 not out) put on a 112-run stand to reel in the home team’s total of 222 with 53 balls to spare.

“My mum stayed for the whole game, even though I wasn’t playing for the first three-and-a-half hours, Labuschagne said.

“She had a feeling, she was adamant I was going to play. I told her I’ve seen the team, I’m not in the team.

“She’s got a feeling, and once again she’s right.”

Labuschagne was feeling the good vibes of being back in his birth country, having “trekked everywhere” in recent days with his parents, who now line in Australia with him, joining him for the tour.

It was an opportunity that came through injuries to Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell who remain in the World Cup squad but couldn’t make it for the five-match series.

Labuschagne said he wasn’t “shocked” when he was dropped from the World Cup squad but had committed to making himself a better ODI player and the results were obvious to all as he batted for 128 balls, hitting eight fours in the matchwinning knock.

“I have been really disappointed with how I have played my one-day cricket the last 10 or 12 games, I haven’t shown the courage or intensity I would have liked,” he said.

“I said to myself when I came back from the Ashes, I had three or four days off then I went back to the drawing board and thought about what I needed to improve in my one-day game.

Marnus Labuschagne celebrates after scoring a half-century. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP

“It’s gone really downhill and I didn’t like that. I wasn’t too shocked when I was dropped. I said that to the selectors.

“I did say I still wanted to be that person batting in the middle order. Then you have to sit tight and wait for your opportunity and when it comes you have to be ready.”

Labuschagne came in at number eight with Australia reeling at 6-93, with David Warner making a second-ball duck. The tourists were 7-113 when Agar joined him.

On a slow wicket they steadied the ship as Agar made a career-best score.

It was an effort from Labuschagne sure to put him at the forefront should any injured players not recover in time, but he wasn’t looking that far ahead.

“Everything is out of my hands,” he said.

“If I get an opportunity, I have to take it. If that means that something comes at the end of this series, if it’s not, I get to see my daughter. It’s a win-win.”

Australian ODIs in South Africa

Sept 7: Australia won by three wickets

Sept 9: Second ODI, Bloemfontein (D/N), 9pm AEST

Sept12: Third ODI, Potchefstroom (D/N), 9pm AEST

Sept 15: Fourth ODI, Centurion (D/N), 9pm AEST

Sept 17: Fifth ODI, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST