Marnus out cheaply again as World Test final looms
Australia need Marnus Labuschagne at his nuggety best for the impending World Test Championship final, but their long-time batting rock has missed out on another chance to show he's really in shape for the Lord's showdown.
How Labuschagne must have wished he had a day like Derbyshire's Aussie opener Caleb Jewell, who hit a suitably sparkling unbeaten 152 for his first ever county ton but, instead, he endured a third low score for Glamorgan on Friday.
The 30-year-old former world No.1-ranked player had two matches with his Welsh county to completely nail down his place in the lineup against South Africa next month but he's now got just one more chance of a morale-boosting big knock after getting dismissed for 23 against Middlesex at Sophia Gardens.
🎥 | WICKET WATCH Higgo has his first 💪#OneMiddlesex pic.twitter.com/TdAzXultqt
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) May 23, 2025
Labuschagne, the 11-time Test centurion, probably has enough runs in the bank to be the preferred man but, back from paternity leave, he would have wished to cement his credentials with the prospect that he, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis could all be battling for one place at the top of the order.
Once again, coming in at three, he was caught, edging to the slips, after he had never looked completely at home in an uncomfortable 63-minute stay during which he scored four boundaries.
Worryingly, it was the same way he'd been dismissed against Northamptonshire last week when he fell for nought and four.
Labuschagne will then surely feel he missed out as his captain Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson, the next two in, put on 228 for the fourth wicket with both completing centuries as Glamorgan closed on 7-334.
Marnus presenting the Glamorgan cap to his mate and debutant Matt Kuhnemann 👏Suits you Kuhney 👊#OhGlammyGlammy pic.twitter.com/3QoH1dOFBW
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏆 (@GlamCricket) May 23, 2025
Earlier, Labuschagne had handed a Glamorgan county cap to his Test teammate Matt Kuhnemann, who's also joined them to help spin himself into form with the WTC final approaching.
Beau Webster, another member of the Test squad, was dismissed for just two off 17 balls for Warwickshire amid their struggles against Worcestershire at New Road.
But Webster's fellow Tasmanian Jewell had a glorious day at Derby's County Ground, batting all day against Kent for his maiden county century in the division two fixture, ending up at 152 not out off 263 balls, having hit 15 boundaries, with the home side dominating on 2-352.
The moment Caleb reaches three figures for the first time this summer! 💯#WeAreDerbyshire pic.twitter.com/oYU5saM9Nf
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 23, 2025
The left-hander has become a favourite with Derbyshire fans for his attacking dash but this was a more conservative knock until Jewell got to three figures after tea, and he might even be thinking about topping his career-best 227 compiled for Tasmania against WA in Hobart last year.
He's now scored 613 runs at an average of 61 this season, and only four other batters in the country have exceeded that mark in 2025, headed by another Aussie Marcus Harris (805), the Lancashire skipper who had a rare failure on Friday when he was bowled for 10 at Grace Road against Peter Handscomb's Leicestershire.
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