If Jasprit Bumrah’s opening-day demolition of Australia’s batting brought the sublime to this Test match, then the sight of Marnus Labuschagne trying to bounce out India’s openers, before tea on day two, was the ridiculous.
Talk about Labuschagne’s potential bowling role, including the short-ball tactic at speeds in the mid-130km/h range, had been a minor theme of the lead-up to this series.
Marnus Labuschagne bending his back.Credit: Getty Images
It told much of Australian hesitance about over-bowling Mitch Marsh, and perhaps their regret about the back trouble that had befallen Cameron Green. Labuschagne appears unconcerned about giving himself a similar injury from bending his back.
But the vast scale of Australia’s humbling, from a point where they had India 6-73 on the first afternoon, made Labuschagne the kind of option Pat Cummins was compelled to turn to, if only for two overs (including the final over before stumps).
Read the rest of Dan Brettig’s analysis here.