Australian debutant Marnus Labuschagne is pleased with his bowling efforts against Pakistan, saying his hard work over the past few months paid off on Day 2 of the first Test match in Dubai on October 9.

year-oldyear-old right-hander, who made his Test debut in this ongoing two-match Test series, dismissed Asad Shafiq just before tea and then ran out Babar Azam soon after the break. The part-time wrist-spinner’s efforts helped Australia to make comeback into the match, as Pakistan lost six wickets for just 72 runs and were dismissed for 482, as the hosts were looking to post much more at one time.

As per reports in the Adelaide Now, Labuschagne told reporters in the post-day press conference, “I’m just happy that I was able to contribute in some way out there. It’s a dream come true, playing for your country and being able to represent Australia. It’s our job now as the holders of that (baggy green) cap to take Australia forward and make Australia proud.”

Commenting on his bowling, Marnus said, “I've been working on my bowling for a long time but the last three months specifically, just getting a bit faster through the air and making sure I'm bowling the right length. I’ve been working really hard with Sri [Cricket Australia consultant Sridharan Sriram] and John Davison back home, making sure we get that length right. So it was pleasing to see it come off today, I was able to come on and not go for too many runs and also lucky enough to get a wicket as well.”

The South Africa-born batsman also said that about his different bowling attack that it made the batsmen think a little differently about how to tackle him.

Labuschagne signed off by saying, “It was a change-up, a change in momentum, a change in the rhythm of the batsmen and just making them think a little bit differently about how they want to play shots and stuff like that. That's probably the key, trying to get them to think a little bit differently with someone who bowls a bit of leg-spin.”

(Input: Cricketnext Staff)