Marnus Labuschagne and the penchant for making Test centuries

Labuschagne scored a majestic ton on Day 1 [Source: Twitter]

Marnus Labuachagne makes a century. Marnus Labuschagne has made a century. Marnus Labuschagne has, yet again, made a century. 

Pick your correct answer. 

Truth is, there’s only one answer. And it doesn’t matter. For making centuries for fun - or so it seems - has been the thing that Australia’s reputable number three likes to do. 

It’s precisely what the diligent right hander did, not very long after arriving at the crease with the scoreboard looking a touch strange at 9-for-1. 

Though it’s not just the century, one that has, so far culminated in a 150 plus score that matters. 

Rather, it’s the situation amid which the 28-year-old Labuschagne scored his 8th Test ton. 

For someone who, prior to the ongoing Perth contest, hadn’t faced the West Indies even once, that Marnus Labuschagne scored an unbeaten 154 on the very first day of the ongoing series is worthy of attention. 

And of some respect, lest it is forgotten! 

In an era where batsmen so often come and go, and at times, even without troubling the scorers, that Labuschagne’s maiden batting effort versus the Windies yielded a ton that was envy-inspiring. 

And yet, it was, in some ways, much expected!

And not only since the Windies bowlers hardly apply themselves and rarely so for continued periods of spell with the red ball, but mostly down to the fact that Cricket has become the bastard child of money making. 

A sport where we are told and often quite loudly almost as if the viewer is fed up by being over fed that Test match doggedness is over and white ball lunacy is the order of the day. 

We are told that cricket has become a sport, where virtues such patience, technique and forbearance are perhaps become like expensive items that have little - or no- space on the cricket field but for surely, in the museum. 

But that the South Africa-born Australian cricketer rattled the West Indies was also in some ways delightful.

And while that may not have been the case for the likes of Seales, Roach, Joseph and Mayers, the sufferers on Day 1, the hosts would’ve loved their batter’s commitment to enter day two without losing the enthusiasm he showed at the game’s highest level. 

What makes him so special!

Each of his sixteen boundaries were hit with purpose, as is often the case. 

Zero toying with bowlers. No tricks. Advancing down the track akin to a military grade defender on the battlefield but always with the confidence expressed  

to his team that all will be okay and so it became. 

For someone who arrived with the team yet to make a double digit score and staying until the end of the first day’s play with his bat doing the quiet (and gentle) talking, it could be said, Perth’s day one was Marnus Labuschagne versus the West Indies. 

So as always, patience outperformed power and doggedness dictated terms. 

While many would concur that the Windies bowlers struggled given their sheer inexperience in playing at Australia, Roach the only exception in the pace quartet, it wasn’t hard to note that why the struggle came along. 

For a certain Marnus Labuschagne, who began as a substitute in Test cricket a couple of summers ago, just scored this thirteenth one. And while that’s the fun part for Australia what isn’t, however, is that he’s still around to haunt the Windies and the series has just begun. 

Also Read: Marnus Labuschagne's ton puts Australia in the driving seat