Winning the toss and choosing to bowl first initially worked well for Glamorgan in the season’s 73rd County Championship match against Gloucestershire. Under overcast conditions, Tim van der Gugten took five wickets, bundling out the opposition for 179 in their first innings.
Beau Webster matched this bowling performance with his own five-wicket haul, helping Glamorgan to secure a slim lead of just 18 runs. As the game progressed, batting conditions improved, and a double century from James Bracey, along with centuries from Cameron Bancroft and Miles Hammond, set Glamorgan a daunting target of 593 runs in the fourth innings.
Following a solid opening partnership, the responsibility fell on Sam Northeast and Labuschagne to steer Glamorgan through the chase. Midway through the effort, Labuschagne drew attention with his unusual antics.
As Marchant de Lange came over the wicket to challenge the middle-order batter, Labuschagne surprised everyone with his quirky approach. He bizarrely ducked under a bouncer by leaning across the line, then left a couple of length deliveries outside off stump in a dramatic fashion.
One day, Marnus Labuschagne will leave the ball normally.
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 2, 2024
Today is not that day. pic.twitter.com/8KqdYF9OjI
Labuschagne’s technique of leaving the ball, often swinging his bat over the ball’s path and striking a pose while semi-opened up, captured everyone’s attention and set Twitter abuzz.
