Labuschagne cleared of serious damage as batters cop beating
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Marnus Labuschagne has been cleared of any serious damage after a nasty blow on the right hand required scans on Saturday night after day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
Cracks on the Perth Stadium pitch caused some deliveries to deviate wildly on day four. Players were hit more often than the previous three Tests at the venue and suffered blows at double the rate of other grounds around the country.
CricViz statistics provided by Fox Cricket found that to the end of the Australian innings midway through day four on Sunday, batsmen had been hit 20 times. This compares to 16 times in the entire Test against New Zealand in 2019 and 14 times in the Test against India in 2018, when the pitch was described as dangerous, and again against the West Indies last season. The average around the country is 10 times per Test.
Mitch Marsh had to replace his helmet twice after being struck attempting hook shots.
“I wouldn’t like to be pulling and hooking on this pitch,” Mark Waugh said on Fox. “It seems to be a very dangerous shot on an up-and-down pitch.”
Usman Khawaja also received a nasty blow during the first session on Sunday, ducking into a short ball that did not get up.
Usman Khawaja received treatment after being hit on the forearm on Sunday.Credit: Getty
Pakistan’s best batsman, Babar Azam, was caught behind for 14 off his thumb attempting to defend a ball from Pat Cummins which lifted and left him, sending Pakistan to tea at 4-53.
Labuschagne was struck a painful blow by a lifting delivery from Khurram Shahzad late on day three and was treated on the ground for some time before continuing. He was out two overs later caught behind hooking for two as Australia collapsed to 2-5.
“An X-ray taken last night did not demonstrate any visible fracture,” A Cricket Australia statement said on Sunday. “Marnus was able to bat unhindered in the nets this morning.”
Before the fourth day’s play, Labuschagne had an extended net session against fast bowler Lance Morris, seamer Scott Boland and allrounder Cameron Green.
Marsh said Labuschagne and Steve Smith, who was hit on the arm and also needed treatment, were “all good”.
“It was a pretty nasty delivery,” Marsh said of the lifter that struck Labuschagne.
Captain Cummins confirmed the deteriorating state of the pitch was part of the reason why he did not enforce the follow-on during Saturday’s play despite leading on the first innings by 216.
“The follow-on is very easy [to explain], Cummins said on Channel Seven. “The fourth innings, the later the game goes on, the easier it is going to be to take wickets.”
David Warner, who followed a first innings score of 164 with a second innings duck skying a pull shot, confirmed the pitch had been difficult.
“If you put the ball in the right areas it’s still doing plenty,” Warner told Fox Cricket. “As we saw yesterday with Marnus Labuschagne, those cracks are starting to come into play.”
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