Labuschagne upset after not scoring ‘big’ hundred

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Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne might have been the star of the show on the first day of the fourth Test against India, but he was still disappointed he didn’t do more.

Australia ended the final Test’s first day on 274/5, with Labuschagne’s 108 the biggest contributor.

“I think, I am definitely disappointed not going on and getting a really big score, which would have put us in a better position as a team,” the 26-year-old said at the virtual post-play press-conference.

“Any Test century, it doesn’t matter who it is against or against what opposition, you want to make sure you are scoring hundreds and probably for me today it was disappointing that I did not end up making that a really big hundred.”

While the Indian attack was depleted, he credited them for their discipline and not giving away easy scoring opportunities on an evenly contested day.

“Indian bowling attacks, they are very disciplined and doesn’t matter who is bowling, they are very planned, they are very strategic and we saw that today with their bowling attack,” he continued.

“They were disciplined early and did not give us many of those scoring opportunities in the first session.

“I think when you are playing really good teams, it doesn’t matter who comes in, everyone in that line-up is very disciplined, they understand their role, you know they are very skilled bowlers.

“So, it was sort of a matter of discipline early on, especially in the first session and half, making sure you get yourself in, you get pace of the wicket. So that you can really cash in when the bowlers are little-bit tired and there are a bit cooked.

Smith unperturbed

A lot of the build-up to the match was focused on former captain Steve Smith – who made 36 – after he appeared to scuff up Rishabh Pant’s guard on the final day of the Sydney Test – but Labuschagne says his teammate isn’t too bothered by external criticism.

“That stuff doesn’t really concern him, he is focussing on the ball and scoring runs. If anything, it gives him extra motivation to put big runs on the board, so I don’t think that [outside] stuff comes into play when he is actually out there [in the middle] at all,” he concluded.

Australia Marnus Labuschagne

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