Australia’s batter Marnus Labuschagne batted well in the ongoing 4th Test in Manchester, hitting a half-century in the first dig and then followed it up by getting his first century in lasts even months and led the battle on a rainy Day 4. The right-hand batter scored 111 off 173 including 10 fours and two sixes in his first Ashes century in England. It was occasional spinner Joe Root who took the wicket off Marnus, ending his 103-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh that kept England on Blackfoot on a rain-affected day.
Despite playing a terrific knock, Labuschagne was booed by the fans after he did not walk back to the pavilion after Jonny Bairstow took a stunning catch. As per the Ultra-edge, it clearly showed a clear edge and the crowd started to boo him even though Labuschagne was walking back towards the pavilion.
Is there ANYTHING this man can’t do!?
Joe Root gets the breakthrough. COME ON! ? #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/EFmDIex5pU
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 22, 2023
At stumps, Pat Cummins’ team were reeling at 214/5 and were trailing by 61 runs but then after the dismissal of Labuschagne, England might win this match from here on.
“I think we’re just going to let it play out, get bowled out when we do. I don’t think we’re going to give England a sniff…that’s exactly what they’d like,” he told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“I feel like my game is in a really good space now,” Labuschagne said. “Coming into this game I was confident about my technique and how I was batting. I was able to be confident and go back to my strengths, forcing their hand to bowl a lot of balls at me and take time out of the game”, he further said.
As per the weather conditions, there is a huge chance of rain planting spoilsport on the fifth and last day of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test match. If the match ends on a tie then the Australian side will end up retaining the Ashes series irrespective of the result of the last match.
