Marnus Labuschagne gets last laugh after Ricky Ponting roasting

Marnus Labuschagne was mocked once again after yet another enthusiastic appeal but the Aussie star had the last laugh.

Marnus Labuschagne has had the last laugh after Ricky Ponting mocked another exuberant appeal from the Queenslander.

One of world cricket’s most enthusiastic appealers, the common approach is for Labuschagne’s appeals for a DRS decision to fall on deaf ears as he often appears to believe everything is out.

But like a broken clock, even Labuschagne is right sometimes.

And he was right in the latest instance.

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With Australia right on top at 6/92 off 36.4 overs, Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy were trying to do anything they could to help India to any kind of competitive total.

But with the Aussie bowlers racing in with their tails up, Mitchell Starc bowled a nasty ball at the body of Reddy, with a noise bringing the Aussies together to decide whether or not to send it to the DRS.

After two unsuccessful reviews, Australia were down to their final review but Labuschagne rushed in to tell captain Pat Cummins to go for it.

“I think he’s hit it — glove,” Labuschagne said.

Marnus was right. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Ricky didn’t believe Marnus. Picture: Supplied

As the time ran out with Cummins deciding to hold onto the review, Labuschagne said: “He’s hit it.”

While Labuschagne wasn’t alone with Alex Carey and Travis Head also clearly interested, on Channel 7’s coverage, Ricky Ponting started in on Labuschagne.

“He’s at third slip so he’s got the worst angle out of anyone on the field. Absolutely anyone,” Ponting laughed.

But the replay showed that the ball had brushed Reddy’s glove, meaning if the Aussies had gone upstairs, he would have been out — and Labuschagne would have been vindicated.

Ponting continued, with less laughter: “And I think he has hit it too. I think that’s hit the glove down the leg side.

“Alex Carey actually looked confident. You see him come charging up to get to Starc.

“Gee, he looked uncomfortable there. Looked awkward. Expect a few more up around that region now.”

The ball clearly brushed the gloves. Photo: Fox Sports

Fox Sports commentators waited until after it was clear the ball had brushed the gloves.

“The two keenest ears in the Australian team are Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne,” Kerry O’Keeffe said. “They hear things others don’t hear.”

David Warner added: “They do — and Marnus does hear a lot of things that are the opposite as well,” he laughed.

It’s no secret Labuschagne can be patchy at best with his appeals as he quite often thinks everything is out.

Harsha Bhogle likened Labuschagne to the “boy who cried wolf”, to which O’Keeffe added: “He gets a few right Marnus, but he gets a lot wrong.”

But he also gets a bit right. Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP

To be fair, Labuschagne has also been right in big moments.

At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Cummins backed Labuschagne against England when Marnus was the only one who believed Joe Root had claimed an edge.

He was vindicated in that situation — Australia ultimately bundled England out of their World Cup defence — and he was right in this situation.

Labuschagne had a moment of brilliance as well soon after when he caught Harshit Rana.

After nicking a ball from Josh Hazlewood, debutant Nathan McSweeney went hard with one hand, but couldn’t catch it.

But the ricochet was nabbed in a one-handed stunner from Labuschagne.

Reddy, who was on 10 at the time, then made the most of his extra life, hitting six fours and a six to topscore for the Indians with 41.

Ultimately India were all out for 150 just before tea.

Originally published as Marnus Labuschagne gets last laugh after Ricky Ponting roasting