'Freak dismissal': Bizarre brain-fade costs Aussies crucial wicket
Marnus Labuschagne was kicking himself, after some poor technique leaving a ball from Colin de Grandhomme wound up costing him his wicket.
The breakout star of Australian cricket wound up losing his wicket for 63, bowled by de Grandhomme after the ball deflected off his elbow and into the stumps.
Labuschagne was visibly furious with himself after the dismissal, having built a strong partnership with former captain Steve Smith.
Channel 7 commentator Damien Fleming said he’d never seen anything quite like it.
"Funny bone, but Marnus wouldn't be laughing at that," Fleming said.
"I don't think I've ever seen that before as a dismissal."
Cricket fans on social media were similarly bemused by the nature of Labuschagne’s dismissal, noting that it was particularly unfortunate.
Unsurprisingly, it takes a freak dismissal to send back the in-form Marnus Labuschagne! No 100 for him today.#AUSvNZ https://t.co/GDYmqTzenw
— ICC (@ICC) December 26, 2019
Marnus Labuschagne's played on trying not to play - out for 63. Good piece of bowling by the man known in French as Colin de Big Man. #AUSvNZ
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 26, 2019
Unlucky way to get out when you are set for another 100, Labuschagne is star already.
— Adnan🇦🇺 (@iamadnan49) December 26, 2019
Genuinely disappointed with Labuschagne for pulling out of his signature "buttering a massive slice of toast" leave just because he heard his stumps go to pieces behind him. #AUSvNZ
— Bertus de Jong (@BdJcricket) December 26, 2019
Steve Smith confronts umpire
Steve Smith has remonstrated with umpire Nigel Llong as he left the MCG field at lunch on Boxing Day in a debate over cricket's dead-ball rule.
Australia were twice denied leg byes in the over before lunch when Smith was struck on the body by New Zealand paceman Neil Wagner, before taking off for a run.
In both instances, Smith faced a short ball from the left-arm quick which struck him high on the body before trickling behind the wicket.
Under cricket's laws, a leg bye can only be scored if the umpire is happy a shot has been attempted or the batsman has attempted to evade the ball.
Umpire Llong both times ruled that Smith had left the ball and let it strike him rather than "try and avoid being hit" in an absorbing first session where Australia lost 2-67.
Smith made a beeline for Llong when lunch was called and he and the umpire had an animated discussion for several seconds walking off the ground.
It came as Smith tried to find a way to counteract Wagner's barrage of short balls, with fields set to catch him out on the pull shot.
Smith has been caught pulling the ball in his last three Test innings against New Zealand, as well as when they last met in a one-day match during the World Cup.
