Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne walks off after he was caught out by South Africa throughout the first day of their cricket take a look at match on the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
World No. 1 Test batter Marnus Labuschagne on Wednesday mentioned that dropping his wicket towards South Africa on Day 1 of the Sydney Test was upsetting. The right-handed hitter additionally talked about that it was darkish and difficult to see the purple ball in that setting.
South Africa was assured that Simon Harmer had taken a clear catch from Marnus Labuschagne within the slips, regardless of the third umpire ruling it not out. In the fortieth over, with the rating at 70, Labuschagne escaped a disputed catch at slip by Simon Harmer off the bowling of Marco Jansen. In response to the decision, South Africa expressed its unhappiness. However, it was a discouraging day for the spectators as simply 47 overs could possibly be performed due to frequent delays in poor lighting and rain.
The lion-hearted Anrich Nortje strikes once more! ????
And he loves it! #PlayOfTheDay#AUSvSA | @nrmainsurancepic.twitter.com/QkOjdyKm6U
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2023
“Definitely very frustrated. It always makes you very angry as a batter when you get out and then everyone walks with you off the field. But at the end of the day, Nortje bowled a really good set there and backed it up, bowled four or five balls in the same spot and that one just kicked. It certainly was dark. The red ball under lights, it just doesn’t stand out,” he said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
While Labuschagne acknowledges that the conflict of two elite groups ought to make for an intriguing encounter, he thinks the setting wasn’t safe sufficient. Additionally, he believes that such circumstances pose a threat to the fielders. “The reality is it’s got to be safe, and when you’ve got two fast-bowling teams you can’t be out there when it’s too dark. Of course, we want to entertain a stacked crowd but it doesn’t always work like that. So it’s quite tough. And I think it’s probably more dangerous for the fielders because you just can’t see it square of the wicket and in the slips, whereas the batters you’ve got a sightscreen and a white backdrop to get the best chance,” Labuschagne mentioned.
Coming to the match, half-centuries from Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne put Australia in a snug place on the finish of the primary day of play of the third and closing Test towards South Africa on the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. At the top of the day’s play, Usman Khawaja (54*) was unbeaten on the crease.
