Tuesday evening, 9.30pm.
Most of his teammates had returned to the hotel after a day of training and media commitments, but Marnus Labuschagne was still facing throwdowns against the pink Kookaburra in the Adelaide Oval nets.
Under artificial lights, Labuschagne repeatedly creamed cover drives as the distinct echo of willow on leather resonated around the iconic venue.
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Crizbuzz reporter Bharat Sundaresan watched on.
“How the best get better,” he tweeted.
“Everyone else has left, and here’s Labuschagne refusing to budge from the net till he’s middled a drive the way he wants to.”
Two days later, almost to the minute, Labuschagne saluted 24,449 spectators after bringing up his 10th Test century, reaching the milestone with a powerful square drive.
It was the Queenslander’s fourth ton in day-night Tests — nobody else has managed more than two.
Labuschagne’s dominant batting display continued through to Friday afternoon, when he feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva on 163.
Before that, it was a chanceless knock from the talented right-hander.
Labuschagne currently averages 61.42 in Australian whites, accumulating 3010 runs in 30 matches. Only one cricketer has scored more Test runs at a better average — Sir Donald Bradman.
His success in the Test arena can be largely attributed to fierce dedication and long hours refining his craft, exemplified by Tuesday’s twilight net session.
Labuschagne knew day-night Test cricket was a different kettle of fish. He was determined to spend as much time as possible adjusting to the pink Kookaburra’s intricacies, which by his own admission is a difficult task.
“The pink ball is just a bit strange,” Labuschagne told reporters at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
“You never feel like you’re really in … it can be a bit two-paced.
“We don’t train with pink balls, we don’t play pink ball in the Shield anymore. We just rock up with a three-day gap and then play a pink-ball game.
“I definitely feel like the ball itself is just different. The way they make the leather with the red Kookaburra, they soak the leather, they dye the leather. Whereas with the pink Kookaburra they actually paint it … like a white cricket ball.
“So that reacts differently off the surface.
“It’s just a bit of a different game. There’s not as much feel, not as much rhythm.”
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Labuschagne initially struggled against the pink ball on Thursday afternoon, failing to muster a boundary until his 66th delivery; but the 28-year-old was patient, gradually adapting to the slow Adelaide wicket and Kookaburra’s movement.
Only once he felt confident with the conditions did he release the shackles, taking advantage of the weary and wounded West Indies bowling attack in the evening and combining with Travis Head for a 297-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
After stumps were called, Labuschagne brought his precious bat along to the post-match press conference, explaining to reporters that he intended to take it back to his hotel room before resuming his marathon knock the following afternoon.
“It’s a long morning,” he laughed.
You couldn’t take the willow out of his hand if you tried. He literally doesn’t go to bed without it.
He has an endless appetite for self-improvement. It’s why he’s currently the world’s best Test batter, officially reclaiming the title back from former England captain Joe Root earlier this week.
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Labuschagne, who recently became a father, is also maturing as an unofficial leader within the national side, confessing that his past on-field antics have at times come across as disrespectful.
He was accused of showing dissent after umpires gave him out LBW in the Sheffield Shield, causing some to question his captaincy credentials.
But Labuschagne has been noticeably calmer at the crease this summer — the exception, of course, being his trademark yell of “No Run” after every forward defence.
“I feel really calm, just trying to stick to the process, making sure I just keep doing the things, go through my routine, watch the ball, understand where they‘re trying to attack me at that certain time in the game and then try and make a plan for that,” he explained.
“Sometimes when you‘re a little bit nervous and you’re a bit on edge, then that’s when that sort of … what you guys probably become accustomed to with me.
“But that overexcitement, that loudness, and maybe it’s also with age, it’s something that as you’ve matured in Test cricket, just has become less and less.”
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Labuschagne is seemingly unstoppable on Australian soil, but more intimidating challenges await him over the coming eight months, headlined by gruelling tours of India and England.
Only one of his 10 Test centuries has taken place outside the comforts of home, a classy 104 against Sri Lanka in Galle. Because of this, believe it or not, critics still linger in the comments section, branding him a home-track bully.
For Labuschagne to unequivocally be considered one of cricket’s modern greats, he’ll need to replicate this form on the dusty wickets of Delhi and against the swinging Duke at Lord’s.
Most Test runs after 51 innings
4659 – Donald Bradman (AUS)
3077 – Everton Weekes (WI)
3010 – Marnus Labuschagne (AUS)
2989 – Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG)
2886 – Viv Richards (WI)
2869 – Brian Lara (WI)
