Cricket

India's recent home defeat to New Zealand has raised questions about their confidence ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. However, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne believes that the visitors remain a formidable opponent despite their setback.Labuschagne acknowledged that India's loss to New Zealand could have dented their morale, especially considering it ended their 12-year unbeaten run at home. "They are probably a little bit lower on confidence, not coming off a Test victory, losing to New Zealand 3-0," he said.However, Labuschagne emphasized that Australia would not underestimate India's capabilities. "They're a quality line-up and they're one of the best teams in the world. So you can never underestimate a team like that," he said.Labuschagne recalled India's remarkable comeback in Australia in 2020-21, when they won the series 2-1 despite missing several key players. "That's what happened in 2021 – the likes of (T) Natarajan played, (Mohammad) Siraj got his first crack in Australia, Washington Sundar played," he said.With India set to field a weakened team in the first Test due to injuries to Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Labuschagne believes they still have ample talent to pose a challenge. "They're a quality line-up and they've showed that over a period of time. You can't ever underestimate the depth of Indian cricket," he said.Labuschagne's comments highlight the respect that Australia has for India's cricketing prowess. Despite their recent struggles, India remains a formidable opponent with a deep pool of talented players. The Border-Gavaskar series promises to be a fiercely contested battle between two of the world's top cricketing nations.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has outlined his team's strategy to wear down India's bowlers by playing the "long game." Labuschagne, who was the highest run-getter in the 2020-21 BGT series, believes that by batting for extended periods, Australia can put pressure on the Indian bowlers and force them to bowl longer spells.This approach is similar to the one employed by Indian veteran Cheteshwar Pujara in the past two tours of Australia. Pujara's stubbornness and solid defense provided a wall-like protection for other batters, allowing them to attack the bowlers who would eventually tire.Labuschagne believes that Australia's batting lineup can exploit the relative inexperience of India's pace attack, which includes Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who will be supported by newer stars like Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Kumar Reddy."We understand that getting them back for their second and third spells, putting them under pressure and letting them come to us and us putting pressure back on them through overs in the field and time in the game, especially over a five-Test series, that is really important," said Labuschagne.Labuschagne has also hinted that he could be a valuable addition to Australia's bowling attack, having delivered medium pace during the Sheffield Shield season and practice sessions. With 13 Test wickets and 84 first-class scalps, he could provide some relief to the workload of skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test in Perth on November 22, followed by the day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18, while the traditional Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne has shared his earliest memory of Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series between India and Australia. The upcoming five-Test series carries immense significance as it will determine the teams' chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London next year.Labuschagne, who has been a consistent performer against India in the Test format, recalled his first encounter with Kohli during the 2018 series. "My first memory of Virat was probably, from a playing perspective, the 2018 series. He was captain at that time, I think, and he was quite intense. When I watched the series, it was a very intense series. I probably haven't seen that same Virat since then, you know, the start of that series. For a long time, he's just been a quality act, but my first memory would be that," Labuschagne told Star Sports.The 30-year-old batsman aims to continue his impressive record against India in the upcoming series. In 10 Test matches against India, Labuschagne has amassed 775 runs at an average of 45.58, including three fifties and one century.The BGT series commences on November 22 in Perth, with both teams facing challenges in their quest to reach the WTC final. India, after a disappointing 0-3 series loss against New Zealand, needs to secure at least four wins out of the five Test matches, with the remaining match ending in a draw or a loss, to qualify for the WTC final.Australia, on the other hand, is aiming to defend their WTC title and cannot afford a series defeat to keep their hopes alive. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams, with Labuschagne's performance against Kohli and India likely to be a key factor in determining the outcome.

Marnus Labuschagne has declared the race for Australia's vacant Test opening spot wide open, following Steven Smith's return to his preferred No. 4 position. Smith's move back to the middle order has sparked speculation about who will fill the void at the top of the order, with Labuschagne, David Warner, and several other candidates in the mix.Labuschagne believes Smith's return to No. 4 is a logical decision, given his exceptional record in that position. "One of the best players for Australia batting in the position he has had the most success in is a pretty simple fix," he said. "Cameron Green is unavailable for the summer, so there is no one batting at No. 4. Why not have the person who has done it best for Australia batting in that position?"Labuschagne praised Smith's ability to adapt his game to different match scenarios, making him ideally suited to the No. 4 role. "At No. 4, you have to be good at playing spin, work on when you need to push, when you need to hold, and when you need to get through a tough spell," he said. "That has always been his strength."While Labuschagne is open to batting wherever the team needs him, he believes he has been successful at No. 3 and would prefer to remain there. "I will bat wherever they tell me to bat," he said. "Currently, I would say that how I have played at No. 3 has been relatively successful. Hopefully, it should be more successful, but that's where I have batted."The race for the opening spot is now wide open, with several candidates vying for selection. New South Wales teenager Sam Konstas, Victorian opener Marcus Harris, and Western Australia's Cameron Bancroft are the three specialist openers in contention. All three will feature for Australia A against India A next week, providing them with an opportunity to stake their claim for a Test debut.

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has thrown down a playful challenge to Indian captain Virat Kohli ahead of the upcoming Test series between the two nations. Labuschagne, known for his exceptional batting skills, has hinted that he may surprise Kohli with his bowling prowess.In an interview with Australian channel Channel 7, Labuschagne revealed that he believes he can bowl bouncers up to 135 kmph. While he admitted to never reaching that mark, he claimed to have come close."I'd love to hit a little 135 bouncer. I've got that in me, I reckon," Labuschagne said jokingly. "My highest recorded is 132. So 3 kmph."Labuschagne's playful banter has sparked curiosity among cricket fans, who are eager to see if he can back up his words against one of the world's best batsmen. Kohli, who has struggled in recent Test matches, will be keen to prove his mettle against Australia, especially after missing three of the four Tests Down Under in the previous series.Labuschagne's bowling aspirations may seem surprising, given that he has primarily focused on his batting throughout his career. However, he has occasionally bowled legbreaks in Test matches, claiming 13 wickets in 50 games.The upcoming Test series between Australia and India promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Labuschagne is expected to play a crucial role in Australia's middle order, while Kohli will be determined to lead India to victory.

Steven Smith's decision to return to the No. 4 batting position for Australia in Test cricket has been influenced by the discontent expressed by his teammates, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, who preferred him to bat behind them.Smith clarified that he did not explicitly request the move but was asked by coach Andrew McDonald about his preferred batting spot. He emphasized that he is willing to bat anywhere but expressed his preference for No. 4.The conversations about Smith's batting position began after the New Zealand Test series, regardless of Cameron Green's injury. Khawaja and Labuschagne had expressed their discomfort with Smith opening the batting, stating that they preferred the "security" of having him behind them.Smith acknowledged that he could have continued opening given his average of 28.50 in the four Tests he played in that role, but he understood the concerns of his teammates. He believes that his return to No. 4 will allow him to make the best contribution to the team.In his first red-ball innings since the New Zealand series, Smith scored 3 off 29 balls for New South Wales against Victoria. Despite the low score, he felt positive about his performance and believes he is moving well and leaving the ball well.Smith also praised 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who was dismissed for 10 balls in the same match. He believes Konstas has a lot of time and is a bright prospect for the future.Regarding potential candidates to open the batting for Australia against India, Smith mentioned Nic Maddinson as a possible option. He believes Maddinson has a similar style to David Warner and could have a similar impact at the top of the order.

Queensland's pursuit of Western Australia's imposing first-innings total of 465 began with a setback as Test aspirant Matt Renshaw fell cheaply for 6. However, captain Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship with a composed half-century, guiding Queensland to 185 for 3 at the end of day two.Labuschagne, watched by his father in the stands, displayed his class with a fluent 77 off 96 deliveries. He combined well with Usman Khawaja, who also capitalized on some wayward bowling from Corey Rocchiccioli. However, Gannon, playing against his former team, proved to be a thorn in Queensland's side, dismissing Khawaja for 31.Jack Clayton, batting at No. 4, remained unbeaten on 52, providing stability to Queensland's innings. The pitch at the WACA flattened considerably under sunny conditions, offering little assistance to the bowlers.Western Australia's recovery on day two was spearheaded by allrounder Cooper Connolly and Gannon, who batted for almost the entire first session. Connolly reached his half-century off 64 balls, while Gannon matched him with a valuable contribution.Connolly's bid for a maiden century was cut short when he holed out to Renshaw in the first over after the interval. Fringe Test quick Michael Neser, who had impressed on day one, bowled only three overs on day two, finishing with 5 for 68 from 25 overs.Queensland still face an uphill task to close in on Western Australia's massive total. However, with Labuschagne and Clayton at the crease, they will be confident of making further inroads on day three.

Marnus Labuschagne's Unconventional Fielding Tactic Stuns in Sheffield ShieldIn a captivating moment during the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 match between Western Australia (WA) and Queensland at the WACA in Perth, Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne unveiled an unconventional and audacious fielding tactic that left fans and commentators astounded.Labuschagne, known for his innovative approach to the game, defied conventional strategies by positioning a fielder directly behind the umpire during his bowling spell. The unusual setup occurred as Labuschagne prepared to bowl in the first innings. Just before his run-up, he motioned a fielder to stand behind the umpire just next to him - an unconventional position rarely, if ever, seen in professional cricket. The umpire, visibly taken aback, paused to confirm that the placement was intentional.The move prompted one of the commentators to exclaim, "I don't think I've ever seen that!" as viewers around the world watched with intrigue. Labuschagne's unorthodox field placement was part of a short but effective spell, where he bowled 6.2 overs and took 2 for 5, including the wicket of WA's Brody Couch, who was holding firm with a defiant 31 off 58 balls.Labuschagne's innovative tactic added a psychological twist, as he combined a barrage of bouncers with the unusual field setup to unsettle the batters. While Western Australia eventually posted a formidable 465 runs, led by centuries from Josh Inglis (122) and captain Sam Whiteman (102), Labuschagne's bold and creative approach became the standout highlight of the innings.His willingness to experiment on such a platform not only captivated the crowd but also sparked lively discussions among fans and cricket pundits alike. Labuschagne's unconventional fielding tactic has been hailed as a testament to his innovative mindset and willingness to push the boundaries of the game. It remains to be seen whether other teams will adopt similar tactics in the future, but for now, Labuschagne's bold move has left an indelible mark on the Sheffield Shield.

As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, Australian cricketers have revealed their thoughts on who they find the most annoying or amusing from Team India.Steve Smith, the prolific Australian batter, singled out Ravindra Jadeja as the player who annoys him the most on the field. "He's a very good player," Smith explained. "He always finds a way to get in the battle, whether it's scoring runs, taking wickets, or making a great catch. It can be a bit annoying at times, but he's a very good player."Josh Hazlewood, Australia's pace bowler, echoed Smith's sentiments, saying, "Probably Jadeja again."Jadeja's impressive record against Australia supports these assessments. In 17 Tests, he has scored 570 runs at an average of 28.50 and taken 89 wickets.Marnus Labuschagne, another Australian batter, found someone else amusing from the Indian side. "The one I always find the most amusing is Rishabh Pant," Labuschagne said. "He's always funny, a great laugh, and plays the game in the right spirit."Pant has a fine record in Australia, scoring 624 runs in seven matches at an average of over 62.Travis Head pointed to India's high-energy batsman Virat Kohli, adding, "I think a lot of people would say Virat, just because of how good he is. He's always getting runs, and his high energy is always there. He's always into you."Kohli's Test record in Australia is prolific, scoring 1,352 runs at an average of 54.08 in 13 Tests.Nathan Lyon, Australia's spinner, humorously commented, "I get triggered by all Indian players."The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth. The series promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams fielding talented and experienced players.