- Australian T20 World Cup team missed
- Instead, play in England’s Vitality Blast T20
- Taken from a catch that some consider the greatest of all time.
He may have been left out of Australia’s T20 squad for the World Cup in the United States and West Indies, but excitable Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne can’t be kept away from the highlights for long.
Labuschagne scored a catch of the year contender during Glamorgan’s T20 Blast match against Gloucestershire in Cardiff on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 141 runs, Gloucestershire found themselves struggling at 4-45 when Ben Charlesworth drove in a full delivery from Mason Crane, who turned Glamorgan’s legs.
Labuschagne ran from distance and made a remarkable diving catch, inches from the turf, eliminating Charlesworth for 10 (8).
Labuschagne surprised Glamorgan fans with this grab in the T20 Vitality Blast
The Australian missed the T20 World Cup squad and that is why he is playing in England.
Fans were amazed by the diving effort, with some praising it as the best catch they had ever seen.
I don’t remember a better catch. Incredible,” a fan responded to the video.
“You can’t keep my son away from the game,” another posted.
‘This guy is a magnificent professional. Some of the others need to study it closely,’ another suggested.
Other fans were enthused by Marnuschagne’s typical celebrations after making the catch.
‘What a catch, only equaled by the celebration. “He’s like an excitable puppy, bless him,” commented one Glamorgan fan.
“The enthusiasm of the boys is infections… magnificent catch and exceptional celebration,” said another,
Labuschagne’s catch was not enough to secure victory as the Gloucestershire bowler hit a six off the last ball to take the win.
Despite the impressive catch, Gloucestershire captain Jack Taylor’s spectacular 70 (48) kept his team in contention.
The match reached its climax in the finale, in which Taylor ran away while chasing a second run.
With Gloucestershire needing seven off the last two balls, bowler Josh Shaw reached the crease.
He scored two runs from the penultimate ball, leaving five runs needed from the final delivery.
Shaw then hit a six over the long boundary, securing a thrilling two-wicket victory for Gloucestershire.
Labuschagne will have the opportunity to enhance his leadership credentials this summer as captain of the Queensland Bulls.
Labuschagne, who previously scored 18 (15), has compiled 119 runs at an average of 19.83 this season.
His catch was the highlight of the game, but Shaw’s heroics on the final ball were the most dramatic.
The defeat all but ended Glamorgan’s bid for a place in the final.
While he missed the T20 World Cup, Labuschagne will have the opportunity to establish his credentials as a potential future Australia captain after being named Queensland’s new leader for the 2024-25 season.
He will captain Queensland in the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield, while Usman Khawaja will continue to captain Brisbane Heat in the BBL.
“It is an ideal opportunity for Marnus to once again showcase his leadership skills and provide him with first-class, one-day level experience,” Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson said.