Marnus Labuschagne makes Test history after 'excruciating' break
Marnus Labuschagne has become just the third Australian to score a double century and a century across two innings, despite a no-ball call saving him early in the innings. Australia started the morning in complete control having not forced the follow on after the West Indies suffered a horror collapse on Day 3.
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Labuschagne started the morning in hot form with Australia declaring at 2-182 at lunch with a lead of 498 runs. The Australian batter continued his run-of-form in Perth, but his historic moment nearly never eventuated when he was on 19.
Alzarri Joseph bowled a fizzing delivery that bounced up on Labuschagne. The Aussie could only parry it away as it ballooned to a fielder. However, as Labuschagne was walking off, the umpire called it back for a marginal no-ball call.
“He must be thinking, what have I got to do right?” Brian Lara said in Fox Sports commentary. “Excruciatingly close that,” Aussie cricket great Adam Gilchrist said.
“A fine, fine line that is. It’s the point of first impact – it is so, so fine,” commentator Isa Gutha added.
Labuschagne went on to take advantage of his lifeline to become just the third Australian after Doug Walters and Greg Chapell to score a double-century and century in the same Test match. He becomes the eighth cricketer in history to achieve the feat.
Double hundred in first innings and hundred in second innings - Labuschagne is a beast in Australia in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/2iL43AhCuL
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 3, 2022
Australians with a double-century and century in the same Test match:
Doug Walters vs WI, 1969
Greg Chappell vs NZ, 1974
Marnus Labuschagne vs WI, 2022#AUSvWI— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 3, 2022
Labuschagne joins Doug Walters and Greg Chappell as the only Aust batters to make a double century and a century in the same Test match #AUSvWI
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) December 3, 2022
Marnus Labuschagne's Test batting average before this Test match was 54.02.
It's now 59.31.#AUSvWI— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 3, 2022
Labuschagne stared his 29th Test match with an average of 54.02. However, he will finish the Perth Test with a stunning average of 59.31. He now averages 167 at Perth Stadium.
West Indies suffer injury scare
Earlier in the day's play, West Indies paceman Kemar Roach was forced off the field in first Test against Australia at Optus Stadium.
Roach hurt something on his left leg while bowling the fifth ball of his seventh over on Saturday.
The 34-year-old bowled one more delivery before slowly trudging off the ground at the drinks break.
It wasn't immediately clear what the injury was, but it's another blow to a West Indies outfit that has been left bruised and battered in Perth.
Batsman Nkrumah Bonner was ruled out with concussion after copping a 140km/h bouncer to the helmet from Cameron Green.
Allrounder Kyle Mayers won't be able to bowl again in the match after injuring his shoulder.
West Indies are facing a brutal defeat in Perth unless they are able to bat out a day-and-a-half on a bouncy Perth wicket.
with AAP
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