Marnus Labuschagne has etched his name alongside some of the greatest players in history after scoring a century and double century in the same Test.
He became just the third Australia and eighth player overall to achieve the remarkable feat by making an unbeaten 104 before Australia declared at lunch on the fourth day of the first Test against the West Indies at Perth Stadium. It followed his 204 in the first innings.
“It’s always nice. It’s something I’ve never done before in Test cricket and I’m very proud,” Labuschagne told Fox Sports.
He has been added to the unique list containing Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Graham Gooch, Brian Lara, Lawrence Rowe, Kumar Sangakkara and Doug Walters. Of the Australians, Chappell scored 247 not out and 133 against New Zealand in 1974 and Walters made 242 and 103 against the West Indies in 1969.
Labuschagne now has 2849 runs at the imposing average of 59.31 in 29 Tests, scoring 50 or more in 22 innings. Don Bradman had passed 50 21 times in his first 29 Tests.
But for the cricketing gods smiling broadly down on him from a clear Perth sky, Labuschagne would have been a footnote in Australia’s second innings thanks to an exhilarating contest with the West Indies’ fastest bowler, Alzarri Joseph.
Elite company
Players to score a double century and century in the same Test
- Marnus Labuschagne (Australia): 204 and 104* v West Indies, Perth, 2022
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 319 and 105 v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2014
- Brian Lara (West Indies): 221 and 130 v Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2001
- Graham Gooch (England): 333 and 123 v India, Lord’s, London, 1990
- Greg Chappell (Australia): 247* and 133 v New Zealand, Wellington, 1974
- Lawrence Rowe (West Indies): 214 and 100* v New Zealand, Kingston, 1972
- Sunil Gavaskar (India): 124 and 220 v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1971
- Doug Walters (Australia): 242 and 103 v West Indies, Sydney, 1969
From the second ball of Joseph’s third over of the day Labuschagne went to pull a short ball which hurried onto him, took a top edge, and flew over the slips for six. There was general bemusement about how the ball ended up where it did.
Another short ball saw the batsman get into a terrible tangle trying to hook. The ball took a top edge, crashed into the side of his helmet, and lobbed to gully for a simple catch.
Shaken and disappointed in equal measure, Labuschagne gathered himself and spoke to square leg umpire Rod Tucker before beginning the slow walk back to the change rooms.
Tucker told him to wait and fellow umpire Richard Illingworth called no ball, which had been relayed via earpiece from third umpire Sam J Nogajski in the match officials box. Replays showed it was a close run thing. When Joseph’s foot landed on the crease none of the line was visible behind the bowler’s footy, but nor was any of it behind the line, as the law dictates.
Having taken just five Australian wickets in four days to that stage, the West Indies stood in a disbelieving group as Labuschagne received the mandatory check by the team doctor and a replacement helmet.
“Obviously I had a bit of luck today with that bouncer. He was bowling quite fast there. I got away with one there,” he said.
“It got the beans running. I played some rogue shots there. I tried to compose myself and get the heart rate down a bit. That was a really good spell. He was hitting 145, 146 (kph). It was a real good battle.”
A battle Labuschagne clearly won in the end.
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