Veteran Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne recently opened up about him probably being dropped several times from the squad ahead of the 2023 World Cup title run. He was dropped from the provisional World Cup squad before injuries provided him with an opportunity in South Africa before the marquee event. An 80* and 124 in the first two ODIs of that tour, along with the injury to Ashton Agar, gave Labuschagne a chance to be in Australia’s final World Cup squad. And then, he played in all 11 games due to the absence of several players periodically throughout the tournament as well.
Speaking on the SENQ Mornings, Labuschagne said, “I truly believe that there was something bigger at stake here at this World Cup and that I was going to play. I think the way it unfolded. I believe that. But that certainly doesn’t mean (that I was close to being dropped).”Well, there were occasions there where I did get the tap on the shoulder, and I wasn’t meant to be playing. But then someone got injured or someone fell off a golf cart. Do you know what I mean? Those incidents actually happened.”
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However, Marnus Labuschagne ended the 2023 World Cup with 362 runs which came at an average of 40.22 and a strike rate of 70.22, including three half-centuries. Labuschange also thanked head coach Andrew McDonald and skipper Pat Cummins for keeping faith in him for the knockout stages when the entire squad was mostly available. He scored a crucial 58* off 110 balls to help Australia out of a 47/3 hole. His 192-run fourth-wicket partnership with Travis Head helped Australia clinch their sixth ODI World Cup title as well.
“Then for the last two games it was the first time we had the full squad available, the full 15,” Marnus Labuschagne concluded. “Once again, I’ve got to thank the selectors and Andrew McDonald and Pat (Cummins) for trusting in me, sticking with me and knowing that if an occasion like that came up (which came in the Final), I could step up and produce.
