The Ashes: Hit on the helmet by Archer now the chestnuts by Broad… but Labuschagne is starting to prove a headache for England
CLOCKED on the head by Jofra Archer at Lord’s, smacked in the chestnuts by Stuart Broad at Headingley, then finally trapped leg-before by a wild full toss.
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne is certainly putting his body on the line in these Ashes
He made history as Test cricket’s first concussion substitute when he batted in place of the prolific Steve Smith last weekend.
And Labuschagne has done a decent impression of their stricken talisman.
He saved the tourists from defeat with a defiant half-century in that Second Test and averted a complete rout here, despite Archer seizing the initiative for England with a six-wicket haul.
Archer is box-office dynamite but he is not the only Ashes rookie to have made a mark.
And if the Aussies do end up retaining the urn and spraying the bubbly then Labuschagne — with a name like a bottle of cheap sparkling wine — will have played a key role.
He was hammered on the grille by Archer with the second ball he faced at HQ but stood up manfully against England’s new sensation.
Then the 25-year-old was whacked on the helmet again by a Mitchell Starc bouncer in the Headingley nets.
“Marnus is strange,” said skipper Tim Paine, “he seems to like getting hit on the head.”
LOW BLOW
Yet even he wouldn’t have enjoyed the one which clattered into his box from Broad yesterday, not long after Archer had ended his century partnership with David Warner.
That led to the administration of the smelling salts and ice from Australia’s doctor, who goes by the name of Dick Saw, if base comedy is your thing.
Archer bowled far less of the short stuff in these seamer-friendly conditions than he had at Lord’s.
But when he did strike up the chin music, Labuschagne faced the brunt of it — and was rocked back by one dangerous bouncer.
This is a man who seems destined to wear black and blue as well as Australian green and gold.
And even when his three-and-a-half-hour vigil was finally ended by Ben Stokes, there was a touch of the bizarre about it.
A full bunger struck Labuschagne high on the pad, with Australia’s top scorer falling as if he had taken another blow to the crown jewels.
A review failed to save him as England cavorted in the evening gloom, sensing the chance for a series-levelling victory.
But thanks to Labuschagne’s 74, the tourists are not entirely out of this one with a total of 179.
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Broad — reminding us of his expertise — beat Warner’s bat a dozen times yesterday morning before he picked up Usman Khawaja.
He later returned with the ball of the day to dismiss Travis Head for a duck. Soon after he got one to rise sharply and catch poor old Marnus where it hurts most.
Australia will need more of his masochistic tendencies if they are to master this reinvigorated England.