Batting with extra edge

What’s the secret of success for Marnus Labuschagne? Matt Thomas reports

On 17 August 2019, the crowd at Lords Cricket Ground witnessed one of the great battles in recent cricketing history. Australia’s star batsman, Steve Smith faced a ferocious spell of fast bowling from one of England’s rising stars, Jofra Archer.

Archer was at his very best, reaching speeds of 95 mph, putting Smith under serious pressure, and testing his defence. But, having battled his way through to 80, Smith was struck hard on the neck as he tried to evade a 92-mph ball from the fast bowler. Smith fell to the floor and the crowd fell silent. Staff, players, and spectators were clearly concerned for his health.

He was treated by the team doctors and returned to the field on the day but was clearly in pain and not at his best. He was eventually out for 92. The next day it was decided that he could not continue, and history was made as Marnus Labuschagne became the first player to be a concussion substitute in a Test match.

As he walked out to bat, there was immense pressure. England had the advantage and Archer was at his brutal best.

Just after entering the firing line, Marnus was struck in the face by another rapid ball from Archer, saved only by the metal grill of his helmet.

The players and crowd were again concerned, but Marnus leapt back to his feet looked straight back at the bowler, smiled, and got ready to go again. Many cricket fans would not have been familiar with Marnus at this point, but his reaction made a big impression. Australian bowler Peter Siddle later commented on that incident: ‘That was the moment when people thought “this kid has got something about him…” and we like it.’

Marnus went on to score 59 runs, the highest in the Australian second innings, and was selected for the third Test in Smith’s absence, top-scoring in both Australian innings, with his bravery and calmness under pressure being clear strengths in his game.

Rising to the top

Just three years on from making his international debut, Marnus Labuschagne has become one of the best cricketers in the world.

In December 2021, the South African-born batter, who plays internationally for Australia, climbed to the top of the international Test batting rankings, making him the number one in the world in his position. His journey to reach this achievement has been remarkable, and his faith has been key in his rise to the top of the game.

Labuschagne was born in Klerksdorp, in South Africa’s North West province. His family moved to Australia in 2004 when he was ten years old and then attended school in Brisbane, Queensland.

Marnus was passionate about playing cricket from a young age. He played junior cricket for his home state of Queensland at under-12, under-15, under-17, and under-19 level.

He spent the Australian winters of 2013 and 2014 playing amateur club cricket in England in Devon and Kent to help develop his skills further. Then, in the 2014-15 season, he made his professional debut for Queensland. Marnus continued to perform well in his early seasons as a professional and was Queensland’s leading run-scorer in the 2017–18 Sheffield Shield competition, which led to his first inclusion in the Australian national squad.

International debut

In September 2018, he made his debut for Australia against Pakistan, but it did not start quite as he would have hoped. Marnus scored 0 runs in his first innings and just 13 in the second. However, in the second test against Pakistan, he took five wickets bowling and made scores of 25 and 43 with the bat, top scoring in Australia’s second innings. It was an improvement on the slow start, but not enough to cement his place in the team as a regular just yet.

It was in England the following summer that Marnus’ international career really took off with those dramatic circumstances at Lords. Again, Labuschagne had decided to spend the Australian winter playing abroad, this time for the county of Glamorgan. After playing well there, he was called up to Australia’s squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England but perhaps had not expected to feature in the first-choice eleven to face Jofra Archer.

Following the 2019 Ashes series, Marnus’ career has gone from strength to strength. He had an excellent 2019 as he ended up scoring 1104 runs in the calendar year, more than any other batter in test cricket. He was the only player who has crossed the 1000-run mark, and also hit three hundreds and seven fifties.

He continued this fine form throughout 2020 and 2021 as he rose to the top of the Test batting rankings in December 2021, during Australia’s comprehensive Ashes series victory against England.

Quirky Style

When facing the fastest bowlers where speeds can be consistently over 90 mph, batters can have less than half a second the react. The margin of error is so small that any hint of indecision can be the difference between hitting the ball to the boundary and getting out.

Marnus’ quirky technique may be a little unusual at times. For example, he has become known for shouting ‘NO RUN!’ when defending or evading the ball. But one thing that stands out is his absolute commitment behind every shot. Whether he is attacking, defending, or leaving the ball, he does so with absolute (and sometimes extravagant) conviction.

This inner confidence and resilience is vital in a sport which can be so brutal, and Marnus has spoken openly about the importance of his faith.

‘It definitely puts more perspective on your life. International cricket – and let’s be honest, the game of cricket – is based on failure… Most players fail more than they succeed. It’s tough. And it definitely helps when you have your faith.

‘Sport is a fickle game… in the big scheme of things, what you’re worth, what you put your value in, isn’t out there on the pitch; it’s internal and in Christ… That’s a massive thing for me because cricket is always going to be up and down and if you have a constant in your life, it makes life a lot easier.’

Supportive Mum

Labuschagne was brought up in a Christian household and he says he’s always had a very strong relationship with God. Having called himself a Christian for all his life, Marnus came to own his faith in his late teens.

His mother has been particularly supportive, leaving Bible verses around the house and even writing them in his cricket shoes. ‘You look down when you’re putting your shoes on and you really give glory to God because he’s blessed you right at this moment.’

He also writes a reference to a favourite Bible verse on the bottom of his bat; the number 40:31 – a verse written by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’

‘My wife and I and my mate came up with that,’ he says. ‘It was just something to give me that confidence when you’re out there to know that God is with you.’ Marnus met his wife, Rebekah, through his church in Brisbane when they were teenagers. They married in 2017.

At the age of 27, there is still plenty of time left in Marnus Labuschagne’s cricket career and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve.