Australia's top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne who is mostly seen bowling leg spin in international cricket, made a statement to his captain Pat Cummins ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opening game in Perth. Labuschagne made Cummins duck with a bouncer in the nets.
Last month, during an interview with The Grade Cricketer, Labuschagne claimed that he can crank it up to 135 kmph and will attempt to bowl a bouncer at India's star batter Virat Kohli. Labuschagne said that people would like to see Kohli ducking to his bouncers.
"Are you going to get the number three of Australia rolling in, bowling bouncers to Virat Kohli? People want to see that. You want to see, can you play on someone's ego. Like, 'are you going to be ducking bouncers from Marnus?" the 30-year-old said.
"I'd love to hit a little 135 bouncer. I've got that in me, I reckon. My highest recorded is 132. So 3 kmph," he added.
Last month, Labuschagne bowled medium pacer in two first-class games including one in Perth against Western Australia. He bagged three wickets. In the last four games in domestic cricket, he has six wickets.
While Australia have enough pacers in their arsenal, Cummins may unleash medium pacer Labuschagne to give them a breather or break a partnership especially in the absence of an injured pace-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green.
Extra pacer or all-rounder?
It will be interesting to see whether Australia opt for an extra pacer in Scott Boland or include Mitchell Marsh in the side. Stand-in T20I captain Josh Inglis is likely to sit on the sidelines despite being named in the 13-man Test squad for first Test until and unless any first choice player gets injured.
Australia's squad for Perth Test
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
