Second Test, Day One highlights, results, latest updates; Awkward Marnus Labuschagne issue he is ‘working on’

Since he was thrust into the spotlight of international cricket as a concussion sub during the 2019 Ashes series, Marnus Labuschagne has become accustomed to the perks of playing the game at the top level – including the use of DRS.

It’s meant when he’s returned to first-class Shield or County cricket, he’s developed a tendency to remonstrate with umpires after being given out lbw.

“It’s definitely been something I’ve needed to work on, because my passion sometimes gets misconstrued as being disrespectful and rude, and that’s certainly not something I’m trying to be,” Labuschagne told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.

“But the reality is that not everyone sees it that way, so I need to make sure that I’m setting a good example for the next generation coming through and playing, young kids, making sure that they respect the umpire’s decision regardless of whether you think it’s right or wrong.”

Labuschagne said not playing with DRS was one of the key differences between Test and first-class cricket, and it requires a mental adjustment.

While Test cricket allows batters 15 seconds to process the decision and discuss it with the non-striker, no such luxury exists at first-class level.

“Most times when I get out I’m like ‘nah I’m not out, I’m not out’ and then with the DRS you’ve got 15 seconds to actually think it through – ‘OK, where did that hit me, back pad, do I think it’s outside the line’. And then you’ve got feedback from the guy at the other end. So there’s a lot of things there that you go through,” he said.

“You almost don’t react because you know that you’ve got that 15 seconds … let’s just try to get the decision right, should I review it or should I not. 

“So that’s when you go back to Shield cricket and all of a sudden you get hit on the pads and you’re given out, and before you’ve even had time to think about it, you’re reacting to the situation because the decision’s already been made.”

Labuschagne said he wanted to make sure he was seen as a good role model.

“I certainly want to make sure that when I’m given out that you’re walking off and you’re not showing dissent, respecting the game and making sure you’re a good role model,” he said.

“I’m not a guy who has big blow-ups or anything like that. Very rarely do I have a big blow-up in the changing room. It’s more just that fact of, you don’t want to be out, so you’re thinking ‘oh man, I don’t want to be out’ and you don’t want to walk off, almost to that extreme.”