Ashes 2023 | Australia's Savior - Marnus' Epic Century Turnaround
Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia save the Ashes (Source: Twitter)
The 4th day of the Penultimate Ashes Test ends with rain playing the spoilt sport and only 30 overs being bowled in the day. The main highlight of the day was none other than Marnus Labuschagne who scored a magnificent century to reduce the massive 275 run lead by England to just 67 at the end of the day. Marnus was going through a bit of a struggle in the first three tests with some low scores and unable to convert his good starts into big scores which he had done earlier.
With this knock he did not only give his side a chance to save the match but also got into the leading run scorer list. With 306 runs at an average of 38.25 he is currently the third highest run scorer for Australia in the series under Usman Khawaja and Travis Head. This innings will bring back the confidence he seemed to be missing in the previous test matches.
Boundary Blitz: Marnus' Artistry with the Bat
Runs scored via each shots in boundaries
There is no doubt that the century from Marnus Labuschagne was one of the turning points for Australia in this match. His innings came at the time where Australia were still struggling at 114-4. His innings of 111 from 173 balls which included 10 fours and 2 sixes made gave Australia the opportunity to save the test match. Through this innings we can see that Labuschagne has scored 90 runs through boundaries which means he has scored over 80% of his runs by boundaries.
Remarkably, Labuschagne's ability to score boundaries was outstanding, as 90 of his runs came through boundaries, accounting for a staggering 80% of his total score. His boundary shots were distributed all around the ground, showcasing his versatility as a batsman. The pull shot proved to be one of his most effective strokes, allowing him to score 18 runs and handle short-pitched deliveries with ease.
Additionally, he capitalized on any width down the leg side, adding 12 runs through well-timed glances. He didn't shy away from attacking the spinners, employing lofted on-drives to garner 12 runs. Notably, Labuschagne overcame his previous struggles on the off side and looked comfortable playing in that region. This improvement was evident as he managed to score 12 runs through his signature cover drives and added boundaries through the off drive, square/cut drive, and square cut, taking advantage of any width outside the off stump.
Furthermore, he demonstrated his skill in playing the late cut, which also fetched him 12 runs through boundaries. This world-class innings showcased his dominance over the bowlers, scoring runs effectively on both sides of the wicket. Overall, Labuschagne's exceptional performance exemplified his batting prowess and proved to be a match-defining innings, giving Australia the upper hand in the game.
Conclusion
In Conclusion we all know that Labuschagne is a world class talent that has been one of Australia’s best players in the last four seasons. It is always important for players like him to play those big innings in the middle. Through this series we couldn’t see the best of him until now due to him throwing away the good starts he had throughout this series. Even if this series has not been Marnus best we cannot forget his huge contribution to his side in that important number 3 position which due to his consistent performances looks to be his permanent spot.
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