As gripping as Saturday night’s BBL final was, the banter and reaction from Australia’s Test players inside their Bangalore hotel was just as entertaining.
Several stars from the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat were unavailable to play in the decider at Optus Stadium after flying to India with the Australian Test squad ahead of a highly-anticipated four-match series.
Instead of being out in the middle, they watched the match on a television from one of the hotel rooms.
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Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Swepson were cheering the Heat on, while Cameron Green, Lance Morris and Ashton Agar were the Scorchers representatives.
“It’s interesting. It’s high energy in here, something I’m not too used to,” Agar told Fox Cricket halfway through the Brisbane Heat’s first innings.
“We’ve got a few of the other Brisbane turkeys in here as well, but we’ve got Greeny and Lance here.”
As he does on the cricket field, Labuschagne was happy to stir the pot in front of the telly watching the BBL final alongside Agar and his Scorchers matches.
“Obviously coming fifth then being in the final, the Scorchers have got everything to lose,” Labuschagne said with a laugh on Fox Cricket.
Heat opener Josh Brown’s blistering 25-run knock off just 12 balls had Labuschagne and the Heat fans pumping.
“We started beautifully,” Labuschagne said.
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“We were very loud and came out of the blocks real hot, especially with three nicks in a row … we were real up and about.”
Labuschagne’s joy however wouldn’t last, with 19-year-old Cooper Connolly helping Perth claim a five-wicket victory and a record fifth BBL title thanks to an unforgettable 25-run knock.
“Oh my God,” Green was heard saying in a cricket.com.au video that captured the Test players watching the thrilling final overs from their hotel room.
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Labuschagne and his fellow Heat fans were then left in disbelief as Brown put down Connolly in the penultimate over with Perth still needing 18 runs to win.
Green, Morris and Agar then celebrated after watching Nick Hobson hit the winning runs.
“C’mon, yes!” Green says before jumping on the bed with Morris and jumping over Agar in jubilation.
Swepson, meanwhile, had his head in his hands while Labuschagne walked away in disgust.
The players in the room then shook hands after the match.
“Ah son of a gun,” Khawaja was heard saying.
