With the legendary Lord’s hosting the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final on June 11, Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne has remarked on the state of Test cricket, stating that it is in good shape.
With Australia set to face South Africa, Labuschagne’s birth country, the right-hander is eager to lead his team to another title.
Marnus Labuschagne believes that the WTC’s two-year cycle has revitalised Test cricket by infusing importance to each match and series.
“It’s an exciting tournament. It implies that every Test you play has something on it, all countries are involved, and anyone may make the final. It’s exciting to play in; you’re competing for a trophy at the end of a two-year cycle. I believe it has worked well. It was great two years ago when we beat India. “I’m looking at it from a player’s perspective, and it appears that the game is in good shape,” he added, as reported by The Tribune.
Australia, which won the World Cup for the first time in 2023 after defeating India by 209 runs at The Oval, is now aiming to defend it. Meanwhile, Labuschagne sees this format as more than just trophies; it’s about lifting the bar for the longest format.
“Whenever Test cricket is on, people want to watch it. India, Australia, and England are undoubtedly carrying some of the weight of Test cricket, but we really want to see all of the countries continue to produce great players and contribute to sustaining such an excellent history of Test cricket. I enjoy playing with the guys here; they are good friends, and I enjoy the atmosphere at the club,” he continued.
The 30-year-old had a strong start to his Test career, becoming the game’s first-ever concussion substitute during the 2019 Ashes at Lord’s, but his performance in the current WTC cycle has dipped. He has only averaged 28.33 with one century.
“The advantage of having been with the club for six years is that you can phone the director of cricket and say, ‘This is what it looks like; is there a chance we can line this up. Without that relationship, there may be some hesitation, and you may not be able to bring someone in for two games. But this is the result of my long-term commitment over the previous six years,” he added.
Apart from Labuschagne, all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster have also competed on England’s domestic circuit, with Green representing Warwickshire and Webster representing Gloucestershire. The three is likely to take advantage of their County experience in the next final.
India
