Marnus hits back at Warner over stinging ‘lack of awareness’ call



Marnus Labuschagne has had a crack back at his former teammate turned commentator David Warner.

Labuschagne was under pressure after double failures in the first Test loss to India, before a crucial 64 in the win in Adelaide.

While that innings will keep the selectors from the door, Warner seemed less than pressed, claiming Labuschagne had a “lack of awareness” in being dimissied caught in the gully.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia walks off the field after being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj of India for 2 runs during day one of the First Test match in the series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Marnus Labuschagne walks off the field after being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj at Perth Stadium. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“I’m still not convinced with Marnus. I don’t think that was anywhere near what we know he’s capable of,” Warner said on Fox Cricket.

“He might have got a couple out of the middle, got a couple of freebies, batted well that night to get through but they bowled poorly. So from that perspective, he had the best conditions to come out and bat in. But he got out the same way he always does get out when he gets over 50, hits it straight to gully.

“So there’s a lack of awareness there of what he’s got to be mindful of. I don’t think he’s anywhere near where he should be.”

Labuschagne told News Corp that he’d “like to see him check how many times I’ve been caught at gully, because apparently I get out there every week.

“I’ve looked back and I think I can only remember getting caught at gully twice. So I might have to have a look at Bull’s (Warner’s) comment there. But like I said, everyone’s here to write newspapers, write articles.”

Labuschagne was criticised for being too defensive in a laborious Perth failure, so he found it ironic to be bagged for batting loosely by Warner.

“I’m watching the game, and I’m trying to play pretty naturally,” Labuschagne said.

“I mean, hitting a cut shot, the ball was there. It was a little bit short, and I tried to hit the ball through backward point, skidded on a little bit more, and I got a bit late, and (Yashasvi Jaiswal) took a very good catch. It’s a two-edged sword. Week before, I wasn’t playing enough shots, and then this week, people are unhappy because you’re playing too many shots. So the end of the day, I’m not here to please everyone. I’m here to win games for Australia.

“It’s not about trying to convince people I’m back or not. For me, it’s about winning games for Australia and me finding ways to score runs. That’s what I did last week and hopefully we can have a repeat. And when I get that opportunity again, and get myself in to make sure I make it a big score.

“(I was a) little bit disappointed getting out the stage that I did last week, but that’s part of the game. And the benefit is that it was able to be set up for someone else to take advantage of that, which is good.”

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