Cricket: Labuschagne spins Heat to BBL win and admits Test bowling hopes

Marnus Labuschagne again bowled superbly as the Brisbane Heat beat Adelaide Strikers in the BBL elimination final at the Gabba before admitting he wanted to bowl more for Australia in Tests.

Brisbane Heat’s Ben Laughlin takes a spectacular catch to dismiss the Strikers’ Michael Neser in the Big Bash League Eliminator at The Gabba. Picture: Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne revealed his desire to bowl more of his fizzing legspinners in Test cricket after another exhilarating display that included the prize wicket of Travis Head as the Brisbane Heat won the elimination BBL final against the Adelaide Strikers by six wickets at the Gabba on Friday night.

The Heat will now play the Sydney Thunder in another elimination game on Sunday at Manuka Oval.

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Labuschagne had the ball on a string. He was all over his Test stablemate Head, who was struggling to rotate the strike or hit boundaries when he unsuccessfully attempted a lap sweep.

Labuschagne goaded Head by saying, “That’s not you, Heady! Not you, Heady!”

Next over, Head tried to hit Labuschange out of the park, only to be caught on the fence for just 12 runs from 21 deliveries. Labuschagne celebrated long and loud, shrieking like a banshee and shouting, “Catch it! Catch it! Yes, the slow wrong ’un! Yeah, boy!”

Look up the video of Labuschagne’s reaction while he was on the Fox Sports microphone. No words here can do it justice. “Annoying, isn’t he?” Heat coach Darren Lehmann joked before piling praise on the Test batsman turned intrepid wrist spinner.

Labuschagne finished with 3-13 from his three overs after Ben Laughlin gave him his third wicket with a spectacular one-handed diving catch on the mid-wicket fence.

“My god, that’s good,” Adam Gilchrist said in commentary after Laughlin dived with the intention to use two hands … before the ball stuck in his outstretched right hand. The Strikers posted a mediocre 7-130 as back-up Test spinner Mitchell Swepson took a polished 2-23 from his four overs.

Heat paceman Mark Steketee bowled a superb new-ball spell just two days after being named in Australia’s Test squad for the tour of South Africa. There were shades of Andrew Flintoff in the sturdy action and late swing from Steketee (0-21 from three overs) that had Strikers opener and danger man Alex Carey flailing around like he was batting in the dark.

Carey made just 13 from 22 deliveries in an innings that stuttered along as uneasily as Head’s.

Captain Chris Lynn had called for an end to the Heat’s trademark tight “heart attack” finishes – not the least because one triple bypass has been more than enough in this lifetime for Lehmann – but it was another tense affair.

Lynn tried to send the second ball of the chase out of the park but only managed a top edge worth a couple of runs. He played and missed at the next offering from Test squad member Michael Neser before having his middle stump knocked back by an absolute pearl of a delivery.

The Heat were 1-6 in the first over and their captain was gone. Labuschagne did his normal routine of saying a prayer on the boundary line before walking out to bat but he was gone in the blink of an eye.

He spooned Wes Agar to Neser at mid-on for just six runs from five deliveries. The Heat had lost their two most dangerous batsmen and they were still a long way from home.

“It’s always nice to get a bit of luck on Marnus,” the Strikers’ Matt Renshaw said. “He has a lot of luck on his side, which is great when he’s playing for Australia but when you’re playing against him, you love getting him early.”

Marnus Labuschagne took three wickets bowling leg spin for the Heat

The Heat were in strife at 3-23 when Sam Heazlett (four) coughed up another single figure score. Englishman Joe Denly was in Geoff Boycott mode until he belted a six and four from consecutive deliveries off Agar.

Renshaw was booed by his old Gabba crowd every time he touched the ball. Lehmann made light of the “heart attack cricket” by saying, “I’m a little bit nervous but I’m all good. I’ve got new valves!”

Denly (41 from 40), Jimmy Peirson (47no from 44) and Joe Burns (17no from 17) got the job done.

Labuschagne has set the Heat alight since his return from Test duties. “He’s one of those guys you could throw the ball to at any time,” Lehmann said.

“He’s great around the dressing room and he’s a cricket nuffy. He loves talking cricket. He’s been a ball of energy since he’s come back in and we’re really thankful for that.”