WATCH: Marnus Labuschagne gets struck on thumb with searing delivery by Mohammed Siraj during WTC 2023 final
Marnus Labuschange (Source: Twitter)
On the first day of the World Test Championship final on June 7 at the Oval in London, No. 1 in the world, Marnus Labuschange put on a brave front. In the first session of Day 1, the Indian pacers struck Labuschagne’s fingers twice, but he ignored the discomfort and continued to look strong for Australia at the top.
On a cloudy morning, India won the toss and decided to bat in their second World Test Championship championship match. The Indian bowlers bowled a tight opening spell with their tails up, with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj taking advantage of the conditions in the first hour. Siraj’s early dismissal of Usman Khawaja for 0 in the fourth over provided India with the crucial breakthrough.
Australia in control after losing Usman Khawaja
Due to the loss of the wicket, Marnus Labuschagne was forced to enter the game early, and he immediately looked phenomenal. Labuschagne was playing for Glamorgan in County Cricket Championship in England, away from most of his colleagues and the Indian batters. The No. 3 batter concluded the season as the third-highest run scorer in the season, behind India’s Cheteshwar Pujara, who led Sussex.
But when Mohammed Siraj’s ball skipped off the seam in the first pitch of the eighth over, Labuschagne was struck on his left thumb. When Labuschagne attempted to leave the delivery, it jerked back and struck him square in the fingers. As soon as he dropped his bat, the top batter asked for the physio. However, Labuschagne continued and remained strong-looking, with no symptoms of discomfort. The No. 1 batter received another blow in the 17th over as Umesh Yadav’s ball leapt off the surface and whacked him on his fingers. This strike was just as painful as the previous one.
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— Raju88 (@Raju88784482906) June 7, 2023
He once, however, persevered through the discomfort following a brief consultation with the physiotherapist. A fifty-plus run partnership between Labuschagne and David Warner for the second wicket increased the strain on the Indian spinners. Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur, India’s replacement bowlers, gave up a few runs after Siraj and Shami bowled the first 12 overs. Warner hit Umesh for four consecutive boundaries in his second over, putting him through the pedal.
