There’s no mixed allegiances for South African-born Aussie Test star Marnus Labuschagne ahead of a first-ever Test clash against his birth country even though he expects the tourists could throw some “curve-balls” his way in the sledging department.
Labuschagne has become the world‘s No.1 Test batsman in the three years since his debut at Lord’s in 2019, as a concussion sub, and hits the showdown with the Proteas off the back of a man-of-the series performance against the West Indies in which he belted 502 runs.
He’s never played a Test against South Africa, but has played three ODI’s against them and scored a fairytale century against then in Potchefstroom in 2020.
The 28-year-old, who moved to Australia when he was 10 and could only speak Afrikaans, conceded this series was “a little bit closer to my heart” but he wouldn’t be taking his foot off the pedal have pounded out three hundreds including a double, in four innings against the Windies.
“My family have adopted Australia as their home and they support me, they support the Australian cricket team,” Labuschagne said ahead of the first Test in Brisbane starting on Saturday.
“But I certainly think it‘s it’s always exciting what this Test holds because it is a little bit closer to my heart because it’s the country where I grew up and where I spent 10 years of my life.”
Labuschagne is also playing as a father for the first time after he and his wife, Rebekah welcomed their first child in September.
Their daughter Hallie travelled to Perth and was introduced to his teammates in change rooms during the first Test against the Windies.
Labuschagne said being a dad had helped him “switch off” from his cricket obsession, but wouldn’t end it.
“When my family‘s with me, certainly the two differences between when they were with me in Perth to when they weren’t with me in Adelaide,” he said.
“I got to bed a lot later in Adelaide and I was watching a lot more cricket videos at night.In Perth that wasn‘t the case, I was getting to bed earlier, putting her (Hallie) to bed.
“I am who I am is because I am obsessed and I am obsessive, I love to try and get better each time and each day.
“I think that part, hopefully it never stops for me because I think that‘s what makes me who I am.”
His South African background is also an inescapable part of who is and that wasn’t lost on South African captain Dean Elgar.
“He is one of the form batters in the world and I am sure there is going to be a little bit of extra spice knowing he is ex-South African as well,’’ Elgar said.
The Proteas skipper also recalled Labuschagne trying to unsettle him in a county game in England by speaking Afrikaans, and suggested they could be a ploy they use during the series.
But Labuschagne is ready for whatever they send his way
“I‘ve got no doubt that they’re going to throw some curve-balls,” he said.
“Hopefully the responses can be either funny or none at all.“
