Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne wasn’t surprised by England's thrilling fightback on day three of the ongoing first Test of the Ashes 2021-22 at The Gabba, Brisbane on Friday (December 10).
Coming together at 61/2 after Australia extended their first-innings lead to 278 in the morning session, England captain Joe Root and batter Dawid Malan scored defiant half-centuries, as well as stitched a stirring unbeaten partnership of 159* for the third wicket to push the tourists to 220/2 at stumps.
Root (86*) and Malan (80*) frustrated Australian bowlers with their defiant stand on Day 3 at The Gabba, as England is now trailing by 58 and have a sliver of hope of saving the ongoing first Ashes Test.
Following two sessions on a baking hot day for Australia, Labuschagne was hopeful that the Aussie bowlers would wreak havoc with the new ball on the fourth day on Saturday in Brisbane. England was bundled out for a paltry 147 in their first innings in the ongoing first Ashes Test.
Labuschagne told reporters: “It's Test cricket, you never expect any Test nation, especially when you're playing England in the Ashes, to come in and roll over and you're going to knock them over. Test cricket is a grind, it's meant to be hard, otherwise, it wouldn't mean so much to both countries.”
He added, “So for us, it's just a day at the office and we make sure we come back tomorrow, review our plans how we bowled today, and come up with some ideas and get those last eight weeks.”
Labuschagne, who contributed 74 to Australia's first innings total of 425 in the first innings, could make the new ball count on the fourth day of the ongoing first Test against England in Brisbane.
The right-hander added, “The new ball is crucial. There can be long partnerships and then all of a sudden you can lose bang-bang-bang quick wickets. If we can put that new ball in the right areas and get a couple of wickets with that new ball, it can really turn quickly.”
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The 27-year-old also opened up about the Australia opener, David Warner (94), who spent much of the third day's play off the field with severe bruising ribs after being hit by Mark Wood and Ben Stokes on Day 2 of the ongoing first Ashes Test. However, scans showed no break.
He signed off by saying, “Those two blows to the rib, that's why he was not fielding today. I don't really know too much about that apart from that.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
