Marnus Labuschagne, the star Australian batsman is currently undergoing a 10-day quarantine along with his Glamorgan teammate Michael Neser after being identified as the close contacts of Nick Selman who has been tested positive for COVID-19.
In a video posted by the batsman on his Instagram account, Neser and Labuschagne engaged themselves in a small cricket session in their room to occupy themselves in these tumultuous times. Neser was bowling at a good pace with Labuschagne leaving a few and defending the others quite solidly.
The premier Australian middle-order batsman has been the leading run-scorer for Glamorgan this season. So far, he has scored 294 runs in 6 games with three half-centuries and an impressive average of 58. He will miss four games for his county before joining them back.
One of the biggest finds of world cricket in recent years, Marnus Labuschgane has established himself as one of the most prolific run-scorers for Australia in all formats in a very short time.
Touted as a Test specialist at the beginning of his career, Labuschagne has evolved himself as an all-format player having performed for Australia in both T20Is and ODIs. He also had a productive season for the Brisbane Heat in the previous Big Bash League.
The Australian limited-overs team has landed in West Indies for a three-match ODI and a five-match T20I series. However, Labuschagne is not part of the squad along with several big names. He had to miss the series due to logistical complexities owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Labuschagne was not happy with his exclusion from the squad but that was the best way going forward according to national selector Trevon Hohns.
“Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. We worked through numerous options in conversations with Marnus to find a workable solution but ultimately came to the conclusion it was more practical for him to remain in the UK," said the national selector behind the logistical issues.
"Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side. It's an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now,” national selector Trevor Hohns concluded.