Marnus Labuschagne has been fined for excessive appealing

Brilliant batsman Marnus Labuschagne has been fined by the match referee for his controversial celeb-appeal in a recent Shield game

Marnus Labuschagne’s manner at both the batting and bowling crease is under scrutiny Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s most enthusiastically unrestrained cricketer, star batsman Marnus Labuschagne, has been fined for excessive appealing after an incident in the recent Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.

Labuschagne has been widely criticised for his animated reactions and reluctance to leave the wicket when given out but in this instance he ran the length of the pitch with arms raised in the air – colloquially knows as a celeb-appeal – after trapping Lawrence Neil-Smith in front.

Only on reaching the batsman did he turn to see the umpire had ruled the batsman not out as the ball had clearly bounced outside the line of leg stump of the rising young all-rounder who bowled him in the previous innings.

Labuschagne was found guilty of excessive appealing but beat a dissent charge.

His Australian teammates David Warner and Tim Paine both responded – presumably with tongue in cheek – to videos of the incident.

“Wow I can’t believe Marnus would do that,” Warner tweeted from the UAE, which prompted the skipper to respond with “We know who won’t be impressed with that Bull…”.

Former great Ian Chappell was critical of the batsman lingering at the crease when given out last summer.

“A lot of players from around the world are taking an inordinate time to leave the crease when they get out,” Chappell told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports.

“Marnus is a bad example – he takes forever to get off the field, but he’s not the only one, and there are plenty of others and from other countries.”

Labuschagne has also developed a habit of turning his back to the umpire when there is an appeal while he is batting.

They are relative minor issues but respect for umpires is a critical part of cricket’s good conduct.

Despite a number of borderline incidents last year Labuschagne was not charged, but he has a colourful history for one of the game’s more clean cut characters.

In 2017 he became the first person charged under new ICC rules regarding fake fielding.

His reaction to umpires decisions during the most recent County season also provoked reaction in the UK – admittedly one of the decisions was a shocker.