WTC Final: How Marco Jansen Bowled The Perfect Delivery To Dismiss Labuschagne

Anurag Dasgupta

Labuschagne wicket [Source: Screenshot/JioStar] Labuschagne wicket [Source: Screenshot/JioStar]

Test match at Lord's, overcast conditions and a vulnerable batting order makes up for a spicy contest and this is a dream scenario for any fast bowler. In the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) final, the South African pacers made full use of the overcast conditions and gave a bowling masterclass against Australia.

The early burst from Proteas pacer and brief resistance by Aussies

With a tinge of grass cover on the surface, Temba Bavuma was happy to bowl first and his bowlers, particularly, Kagiso Rabada responded in style as he dismissed Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in quick successions.

However, Steve Smith had a brief partnership with new opener, Marnus Labuschagne as the duo resisted for a while and frustrated the Proteas pacers. Someone needed to break the partnership and Marco Jansen raised his hands up. He had the perfect plan and executed it to perfection as the Aussie batter was dismissed for 17.

How Jansen delivered a tactical masterclass Vs Labuschagne

Till the 18th over of the match, Jansen was constantly bowling from over the wicket to the right-handers and he was not able to get any purchase from the surface, nor was he able to bring the ball back into the righty.


However, in the 18th over, he made a tactical switch by coming around the wicket to Marnus Labuschagne.  The 4th and 5th delivery of the over was bowled from over the wicket but on the last ball, Jansen switched his angle and coming around the wicket helped him. He bowled a length ball and for a while Labuschagne felt that the ball was coming into him so he had to play a shot at it. However, the angle was such that at the last moment, the ball nipped away and caught the outside-edge to the keeper.

Why the around the wicket angle was effective?

For a left-arm pacer, over the wicket angle to the righty means that most of the deliveries go away from the batter and this allows him to leave the delivery with ease.

However, when coming around the wicket the dynamism changes. The natural angle allows the ball to also nip back in at the last moment and this creates a doubt in the minds of a batter and this happened with Labuschagne too, as he went for a defensive shot but the ball moved away at the last second to take his wicket.