Is Marnus Labuschagne the luckiest cricketer in today’s era?
Hardcore cricket fans will be well aware of the luck factor that has followed Labuschagne throughout his 65-Test career. Even some of his former Australia teammates have openly joked about it.
And now, despite not having scored a Test century in more than three years, Labuschagne has once again survived the selectors’ axe, retaining his place in Australia’s squad for next month’s tour of South Africa. Talk about a slice of fortune.
Labuschagne’s position was always going to be one of the major talking points after Australia drew 1-1 with Bangladesh in August. Yet the selectors have largely resisted making sweeping changes to the squad. Cooper Connolly, Matthew Kuhnemann and Michael Neser have been brought in, but the rest of the group remains unchanged from the Mackay Test, where Australia crushed Bangladesh by an innings.
That means Labuschagne gets another opportunity despite a prolonged slump that has now become difficult to ignore.
Since establishing himself during the 2019 Ashes, Labuschagne has effectively owned Australia’s No.3 position, batting there 95 times. Cameron Green, with only eight innings at first drop, is the only other Australian batter in that period to have occupied the position more than once.
But should that monopoly continue?
Labuschagne averaged 34.91 in 2023, 30.93 in 2024 and just 20.84 in 2025. This year, he is averaging 24.20. More significantly, he has gone 43 Test innings without a century, averaging only 24 across that stretch.
Can you remember another Australian batter in this era being given so many opportunities despite numbers like these over such an extended period?
His most recent Test against Bangladesh did little to strengthen his case. Labuschagne scored 1 and 31 in the first Test before making just four in the second. And yet, he remains in the squad. There is no guarantee he will play in South Africa, particularly with uncapped Connolly included as a potential No.3 option. But his continued selection clearly suggests someone within the Australian setup still has enormous faith in him.
For me, though, Labuschagne has looked increasingly like a walking wicket over the past two years. At some point, surely, the numbers have to matter.
