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Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne shined with the willow on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test against India at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Dropped twice in the innings, Labuschagne rode his luck to score the fifth century of his Test career. The right-handed batsman scored 108 off 204 deliveries with nine boundaries before debutant T Natarajan dismissed him in the 66th over.
Labuschagne formed a much-needed 113-run partnership with Matthew Wade for the fourth wicket. Wade made 45 and became Natarajan’s maiden Test wicket.
The twin strikes by Natarajan in the final session were nullified by Australian captain Tim Paine (38 not out) and all-rounder Cameron Green (28 not out). The duo stitched an unbeaten 61-run stand for the sixth wicket as 𒈔Australia ended Day 1 on 274/5 in 87 overs.
Batting first, David Warner (1) and Marcus Harris (5) got out with just 17 runs on the scoreboard.
Warner was caught at the second slip in the very first over of the innings bowled by Mohammed Siraj. Harris, who was replacing the injured Will Pucovski, hung around for a while but Shardul Thakur dismissed him in the ninth over.
Then, Labuschagne and Steve Smith did well to settle Australia for 65/2 at lunch. However, after the break, Smith was sent back to the pౠavilion by Washington Sundar, who gotꦦ his first wicket in the oldest format.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Most 100s in ICC World Test Championship
5 Marnus Labuschagne
4 Babar Azam
4 Steve Smith
4 Ben Stokes— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
cameron green wouldn't have ever imagined that in his fourth test he'd be batting against an attack without a single member having played four tests
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75)
You never knﷺow when & how opportunity knocks on your door but when it appears you should be ready. I am sure both and are well prepared for t꧋heir 1st test match. Congrats and Good luck.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
The one delivery that Bharat Arun worked with a lot on in the nets was the classic left-armer’s in-swinger to the right-hander. We haven’t seen much of it yet with the new-ball today. Will be the perfect finish to the dཧay for India if he can pull it off now
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
//twitter.com/ꦆbenjones꧅cricket/status/1349917623195197441
T Natarajan is the first ever Indian to💃 debut in all three formats in the same tour.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
To tꦇhink Marnus Labuschagne got his chance because of that Archer bouncer to Smith at Lord’s. I’m sure he’d have forced his way into the team at some point anyway, but boy has he been consistent since.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
Since June 2018, there have been eight wicket-keepers to make 500+ Test runs. Tim Paine's average of 28.07 in that time is the lowest of that group.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst)
India hanging in there but dropping 3 catches has helped Australia reach a position from where they can eyꦫe 400. Tough day for India
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
Even though it is very frustrating to see how Indian players are falling to injuries and playing with thr Bench in the 4th Test we still could have had Kangaroos for dinner tonight if catches were held…field well tmrw please rest all is good still
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru)
The resilience of this Indian team in Australia is sꦫomething else. NZ used 17 players in their disastrous series in Australia last summer; India has now used 20 players (in one more match) yet are still competing on equal terms.
— Andrew (@shortflyslip)
.'s first international wickets ⚡️
ODI: Marnus Labuschagne
T20I: Glenn Maxwell
Test: Matthew Wade— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
Most Test runs at the Gabba after 3 innings
339 – MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE (and counting)
326 – Don Bradman
310 – Doug Walters
300 – Brian Booth
286 – Norm O'Neill
— Swamp (@sirswampthing)
I reckon this is the least experienced attack (13 wickets coming 🎃i𝔍nto this Test) that Australia has faced since England rocked up to the Oval in 1880 with 8 wickets amongst themselves.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay)
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford, Paul Wilꩵson; Third Umpire Paul Reiffel
