'Lucky' Marnus Labuschagne rescues Aussies with home ground century
Marnus Labuschagne has ridden his remarkable luck after surviving numerous dropped catches to finally convert a big start into a Test century against India at the Gabba.
Labuschagne notched his fifth Test ton for Australia in the final session of day one in the series-deciding Test against India.
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The in-form Aussie batsman walked to the crease in the opening over after David Warner's dismissal for just one and benefited from two dropped chances in a patient hundred off 195 balls.
The Queenslander exploited India's fumbles, captain Ajinkya Rahane dropping a simple chance at gully when he was on 37, while a much tougher chance split wicketkeeper and first slip nine runs later.
Labuschagne gets a life! 😰
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/IzttOVtrUu pic.twitter.com/8FoaapsPGe— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
All up India have dropped the No.3 six times across the four Tests of this series.
Incredibly, Labuschagne has been dropped 10 times in his Test career while only being caught 16 times.
Only England's Ben Stokes has been dropped more since the Australian's debut.
Viewers were left stunned by Labuschagne's remarkable fortune after the Aussie batsman made the most of his latest reprieves to punish the Indians.
Labuschagne very LUCKY hundred 😶#AUSvIND
— Sohom 💫🏏🎬 (@mastiyaapa) January 15, 2021
Lucky Labuschagne scores a hundred. Should've been in Pavillion long back.
— Sanjeev (@worldofsanjeev) January 15, 2021
Wish I could ever get half lucky in any aspect of my life as Labuschagne in this series 😭
— Hasan Rizvy (@hassanrizvii) January 15, 2021
Labuschagne has batted well this series, but he’s been very lucky. Very lucky. #AUSvIND #AUSvsIND
— Shantanu Smart (@smartshantanu) January 15, 2021
How more lucky can Labuschagne be? #INDvsAUS #brisbanetest
— Ansh Agarwal (@anshagrawal343) January 15, 2021
@cricbuzz Both the teams have dropped catches. But it's only one batsmen who has been lucky enough to make it count maximum.That's Labuschagne for you.
— Rahul (@rahul_cricguy) January 15, 2021
💯!! Fifth Test C.E.N.T.U.R.Y. for Marnus Labuschagne in Test Cricket. This is his first ton against India. He has been the most consistent batsman of the series. #INDvAUS #AUSvIND
— Avinash Sharma (@avinashrcsharma) January 15, 2021
A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! 🔥@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
No.3 helps Australia out of early hole
Labuschagne scored his maiden Test hundred in Australia's last visit to the Gabba, kickstarting a summer that took him to No.3 in the world's Test batting rankings early last year.
While not emulating those remarkable numbers against India, the 26-year-old has still easily topped the series run charts and managed 47, 48 and 91 in his previous first innings knocks against the tourists.
A second-innings 73 at the SCG meant his wait for another century continued until he stroked a cover drive into the gap and ran four as the shadows began to creep across the Gabba outfield.
He had started cautiously, partner Steve Smith the aggressor in a 70-run stand after they combined at the perilous point of 2-17.
Once Smith chipped a catch to mid-wicket Labuschagne moved through the gears, driving well straight down the ground and running hard in a fourth-wicket partnership with Matthew Wade that pushed Australia towards 200.
That partnership ended in the final session when Wade was caught for 45 after hitting a rash shot down the throat of Shardur Thakur to give debutant T. Natarajan his first Test wicket.
Labuschagne (108) was then dismissed a short time after notching his century, caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to give Natarajan his second wicket.
The Aussies got off to a shocking start with openers Warner (1) and Marcus Harris (5) removed within the first nine overs.
with AAP
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