Marnus Labuschagne, Australia batsman is excited at the prospect of this winter’s Ashes, even if his country’s Covid restrictions will make tour life even more challenging than usual for England. Joe Root’s men face being without their families for up to four months and Marnus Labuschagne, who has been away from his own loved ones while playing for Glamorgan for the last three months, admits it is going to be difficult.
Marnus Labuschagne Excited For The Upcoming Ashes And Relishes To Play Against Jofra Archer If He Is Fit
‘I’m so excited,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to have Test cricket at all until around the Ashes — we play Afghanistan just before that.”
Marnus Labuschagne is excited at the prospect of this winter’s Ashes Test with England.
‘It’s so exciting to be back playing Test cricket and playing in the Ashes at home. I’m looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully, both teams are fully fit and we can have a really good contest.’
He added: ‘I’ve been in England without my family for three months and it’s not nice. We prefer people to be with their families. We’re not talking cricket right now. We’re talking about people’s well-being and families.’
‘One thing we have realised with Covid is that things change quickly. I just hope things sort themselves out and families will be allowed to come.’
Although the 27-year-old batsman knows that being on tour for prolonged periods is a part and parcel of the job, he accepts the impact affects people differently especially in testing times arising due to Covid-19.
‘There are always injuries in sport but I want to be playing against the best so if Archer is fit, I want to be playing against Jofra Archer,’ he explained.
Since 2019, Marnus Labuschagne has kicked on to be recognized as one of the world’s leading Test batsmen. His average of 60.8 from 18 Tests speaks for itself.
Marnus Labuschagne Was First Even Concussion Substitute In Tests Replacing Then Skipper Steve Smith In 2019
Marnus Labuschagne replaced Australia captain Steve Smith when he was hit by a vicious Jofra Archer bouncer in August 2019.
‘I think it’s really individual,’ he explained. ‘At the end of the day, it’s our job as players. You’re not forced to be a cricketer and I think in the current environment it’s sometimes the way it is. You have to be away from your family. No one wants to be away from their family for three or four months but we’ve got to keep the game growing.’
Marnus Labuschagne took international cricket by storm with a gutsy 59 after becoming Test cricket’s first concussion substitute, replacing concussed captain Steve Smith. Marnus Labuschagne has kicked on to be recognized as one of the world’s leading Test batsmen.
‘It has been an amazing journey so far in Test cricket, especially since that day at Lord’s,’ said Labuschagne. ‘That’s what sticks in people’s minds. What gets forgotten is I played 10 games of county cricket — I was very familiar with the conditions in England and my own game.’
England’s rest-and-rotation policy has received plenty of criticism. But Marnus Labuschagne is hopeful it will allow them to land in Australia with a strong bowling unit.
He said: ‘England are playing 13 Test matches in the same period we are playing none. Their bowlers can’t play in 10 Test matches — not many bowlers are going to last that in a 12-month period.’
Marnus Labuschagne was the highest run-scorer in the inaugural World Test Championship with 1675 runs at 72.82 playing 13 Tests. On the 2019 Ashes tour to England, Marnus Labuschagne found his form in Tests. After replacing Steve Smith as a concussion substitute, the right-hander overcame the fire of England pacer Jofra Archer and hit four consecutive half-centuries.