Marnus Labuschagne declared himself fit for the forthcoming Boxing Day Test after Australia easily defeated Pakistan by 360 runs at the tough Optus Stadium, despite a scare with a significant finger injury. Along with a few other Australian batsmen, Labuschagne felt the heat in the second inning and took a hard blow to his right little finger in the sixth over.
The ball shot off the pitch and struck Marnus Labuschagne hard thanks to Khurram Shahzad, the new fast bowler. He had bravely returned to batting, if briefly, before being removed for two runs, even though he had sought quick medical assistance. It was a battle against time for the right-hand hitter to recover for the vital next Test match after he had scored 16 runs in the opening inning.
There is no break in the finger. It caught me more in the knuckle area and caused my hand to become somewhat stuck. I was just a little uncomfortable about it. That side of the glove didn’t feel all that comfortable because there was no cushioning there. I was a little uneasy. Even though I’ve had many finger hits, this one felt a little different. According to ESPNcricinfo, Labuschagne stated, “Overnight, it was a little sore.”
But when it’s up and down, nobody enjoys batting, according to Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne spent an hour in the nets prior to play on day four at Optus Stadium. Lance Morris, an Australian Test player who is vying for the title of quickest bowler in the country, offered quick deliveries. The aggressive pace of Pakistan also put Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith to the test, affecting their arms as well. Throughout the hectic day’s play, Pakistan’s aggressive quicks struck Mitchell Marsh twice in the helmet as the all-rounder was subjected to a torrent of short-pitched deliveries.
“It [net session] wasn’t to test the finger out; it was to bat—something I didn’t do enough of in this game. “Both Steve and Uz appear to be doing well. When the fissures started to show toward the end, it was quite painful. Each of us has played here frequently and is accustomed to the bounce; some of us even have solid Perth resumes. However, on a fast surface with sharp, steep bounces and ups and downs, nobody enjoys batting. When things are that bad, you simply have to figure out a way to get by,” Labuschagne said.
India
