Marnus Labuschagne collected laurels on the first day of the ongoing Australian Test summer on the back of scoring his eighth Test century against West Indies at the Perth Stadium.
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Playing a Test match after four and a half months, Labuschagne scored his seventh Test century at home, second at this venue, in this year and under Pat Cummins and first against this opposition.
Making Australia recover from opening batter David Warner’s (5) early dismissal, Labuschagne shared a 142-run second-wicket partnership alongside opener Usman Khawaja (65) before sharing an unbeaten 142-run third-wicket partnership with former captain Steven Smith (59*).
Building on his reputation of registering daddy hundreds, Labuschagne converted a ton into a 150+ score for the fourth time in his career. Set to resume batting from 154* on Day 2, Labuschagne will have eyes on a second Test double century.
Marnus Labuschagne ecstatic to score Test century in front of wife Rebekah and daughter Hallie
Labuschagne, who credited forming a couple of key partnerships as a guiding force behind his knock earlier in the day, opined that he understood conditions quite well due to his experience of playing at his home ground in Brisbane.
Labuschagne, who drew similarities between the conditions of Gabba and Optus Stadium, laid emphasis on following a process while not caring much about other factors.
A primary reason why this innings will be close to Labuschagne’s heart is because it coming in front of his wife Rebekah Labuschagne and daughter Hallie Grace Labuschagne. In what was the first appearance at a cricket ground for the latter, her father welcoming her with a Test century was quite a special family moment for the Labuschagnes.
“My wife and my daughter Hallie made this trip down to Perth. It’s her [daughter] first day at the cricket and it was nice to get a score in front of them,” Labuschagne told Fox Cricket after Stumps, Day 1.
