Labuschagne – 'Mum had a feeling I would play'

Green was hit behind the left ear when he ducked into a Kagiso Rabada bouncer off the second ball he faced after walking out at No.4 for the first time in his ODI career. Green retired hurt and didn’t return. Cricket Australia confirmed he had a precautionary scan and will now enter an eight-day concussion protocol where he will be monitored daily by the medical staff. He is not going to be available to play again until at least the last match of the series on September 17.

But despite all evidence to the contrary, Alta Labuschagne stayed at the ground in Bloemfontein for the entirety of Australia’s bowling innings and the start of the chase and was proven right. Green was hit in the head in the 6th over of Australia’s reply. Five overs later Australia confirmed Labuschagne would be the concussion sub for Green, as he famously was for Smith at Lord’s in the second Ashes Test in 2019, and one over later he was out in the middle at No.7 with Australia in dire straits at 72 for 5. From there he guided his side home with a classy 80 not out from 93 balls looking every bit the world-class player he has been at Test level.

“She’s an amazing woman,” Labuschagne said of his mother’s premonition. “She stayed for the whole game. Even though I wasn’t playing for the first three-and-a-half hours of the game. She had a feeling. She was adamant when I came here that I was going to play this game. And I told her, ‘I’ve seen the team, Mum, I’m not in the team.’ She just got a feeling and once again, she’s right. It’s hard to describe, to be honest.”

“I wasn’t too shocked when I was dropped. I said that to the selectors, I said, ‘I understand I haven’t made runs.’ But I did say that I still want to be that person for you batting in the middle order. And then you’ve just got to sit tight and wait for your opportunity. And when the opportunity comes, you’ve got to be ready.”

Marnus Labuschagne on his omission from Australia’s World Cup squad

Labuschagne’s innings will undoubtedly cause some external discussions around his omission from Australia’s World Cup squad. But Labuschagne was having none of it, taking full responsibility for his recent ODI form and being completely understanding of the reasons behind his omission.

“I have been really disappointed with how I’ve played my one-day cricket, the last 10 to 12 games I felt like I haven’t shown the intensity and the courage that I would have liked,” Labuschagne said.

“I wasn’t too shocked when I was dropped. I said that to the selectors, I said, ‘I understand I haven’t made runs.’ But I did say that I still want to be that person for you batting in the middle order. And then you’ve just got to sit tight and wait for your opportunity. And when the opportunity comes, you’ve got to be ready.”

Ready he was, just like he was at Lord’s. Labuschagne revealed he only took three or four days off after the grueling Ashes series and was straight back into the nets working on his white-ball deficiencies.

“It comes (down) to your training, I always pride myself on training well, and making sure I’m always ready,” Labuschagne said.

“The opportunity that happens when you’re a concussion sub is sometimes a little bit of a free hit because the pressure of the game is out there but obviously the expectation is probably not as much on you.”

Australia’s injury toll remains a concern with Green now added to the list of concerns alongside Smith, Maxwell (ankle), Pat Cummins (wrist) and Mitchell Starc (groin) ahead of the World Cup.

Labuschagne proved he is ready to go at a moment’s notice and a man for a crisis, particularly on difficult pitches. His mum might tell him to keep his passport within arm’s reach at all times as the World Cup draws closer.

Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo