NEW DELHI: Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne, determined to overcome a nasty blow to his pinky finger in the series-opening victory against Pakistan, has been given the green light to play in the upcoming ‘Boxing Day‘ Test.
Labuschagne, struck on the right hand by debutant Khurram Shahzad in the second innings in Perth, received medical attention and humorously downplayed the significance, saying, “It’s going to have to take something pretty serious to have me miss a game.”
All-rounder Cameron Green, eager to reclaim his spot in the starting XI, extended his best wishes to Labuschagne before the medical assessment.Labuschagne jokingly recounted their interaction, stating, “He just said, ‘I hope it all goes well, good luck.’ I just said, ‘It’s not going to make a difference, mate.'”Labuschagne, a key player for Australia, acknowledged the challenges of playing on a pitch with sharp, steep bounce, but he stopped short of deeming it unsafe.
Reflecting on the pitch conditions, he said, “No one likes batting when it’s like that, up-and-down. The sharp, steep bounce on a fast wicket. It’s not a cup of tea for anyone. But you just have to find a way when it’s like that.”
With bruises evident on several players after Australia’s dominant 360-run win, Labuschagne and others, including Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja, showcased resilience. All Australian players, including Labuschagne, have been cleared for the ‘Boxing Day’ Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with no expected changes to the lineup.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Labuschagne, struck on the right hand by debutant Khurram Shahzad in the second innings in Perth, received medical attention and humorously downplayed the significance, saying, “It’s going to have to take something pretty serious to have me miss a game.”
All-rounder Cameron Green, eager to reclaim his spot in the starting XI, extended his best wishes to Labuschagne before the medical assessment.Labuschagne jokingly recounted their interaction, stating, “He just said, ‘I hope it all goes well, good luck.’ I just said, ‘It’s not going to make a difference, mate.'”Labuschagne, a key player for Australia, acknowledged the challenges of playing on a pitch with sharp, steep bounce, but he stopped short of deeming it unsafe.
Reflecting on the pitch conditions, he said, “No one likes batting when it’s like that, up-and-down. The sharp, steep bounce on a fast wicket. It’s not a cup of tea for anyone. But you just have to find a way when it’s like that.”
With bruises evident on several players after Australia’s dominant 360-run win, Labuschagne and others, including Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja, showcased resilience. All Australian players, including Labuschagne, have been cleared for the ‘Boxing Day’ Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with no expected changes to the lineup.
(With inputs from Reuters)
