SA vs AUS: Marnus Labuschagne says his mom had a feeling he would play 1st ODI despite not being in lineup

Marnus Labuschagne revealed that his mom had a feeling he would play the first ODI against South Africa on Thursday after his batting heroics helped Australia record a three-wicket win.

Labuschagne played a pivotal role in the first ODI against South Africa as he came on as a concussion substitute in the match. He replaced Cameron Green, who had been hit on the head by a rising delivery from Kagiso Rabada.

Labuschagne’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He scored a match-winning 80 not out, leading Australia to their target after putting South Africa into bat and dismissing them for 222. His half-century came from just 47 balls, and he remained unbeaten on 80 from 93 balls when Ashton Agar struck the winning runs. This impressive performance led Australia to an unlikely victory, despite being in serious trouble at 113-7 earlier in the game.

Speaking after the match, as quoted by Cricket.com.au, Labuschagne said that his mom was adamant that he would be playing in the match despite not being in the original lineup.

“She stayed for the whole game â€æ she was adamant when I came here that I was going to play this game and I told her ‘I’ve seen the team, mum, I’m not in the team’,” Labuschagne recalled post-match.

“She just had a feeling, and once again she’s right.”

Labuschagne opened up on his World Cup snub and admitted that he was really disappointed with the way he was playing ODI cricket and wasn’t too shocked when he was dropped by the selectors. The Aussie batter said he went back to the drawing board after the Ashes, looking to improve his one-day game.

“I have been really disappointed with how I’ve played my one-day cricket, the last 10 to 12 games I felt like I haven’t shown the intensity and the courage that I would have liked,” Labuschagne said.

“I wasn’t too shocked when I when I was dropped, I said that to the selectors (that) ‘I understand, I haven’t made runs’.”

“When I came back from the Ashes, I went back to the drawing board and really thought about what I wanted to improve in my one-day game.”

“I still want to be that person batting in the middle-order, and you’ve just got to sit tight and wait for your opportunity and when it comes, you’ve got to be ready.”