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Marnus Labuschagne hits century to put Australia on top in Brisbane Test vs India

Marnus Labuschagne hit his fifth century and first against India as he put Australia in a dominant position on day 1 of the Brisbane Test.

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Marnus Labuschagne has contributed consistently in the series and Australia is in a better position. (Image credit: Cricket Australia Twitter)
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There are many similarities between Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Both have an eccentric approach to batting. Both love batting. Both average 60 in Tests. Both have a stance of batting which makes them siamese twins. One thing that Steve Smith has which Marnus Labuschagne did not have was a century against India. On Friday, on the opening day of the Brisbane Test against India, Marnus Labuschagne corrected that anomaly finally when he slammed his first century against India and fifth overall to put Australia in a dominant position on day 1 of the fourth and final Test. Marnus Labuschagne was well-supported by Matthew Wade and they shared a partnership that went past 100.

Marnus Labuschagne came to bat after Mohammed Siraj had gotten rid of David Warner cheaply in the first over. When Marcus Harris was dismissed, Labuschagne and Steve Smith once again got down to work. Just like Sydney, Labuschagne and Steve Smith started cautiously started off but it was Steve Smith who was the more confident of the lot. Steve Smith broke the shackle with two fours off Shardul Thakur and after a slow start, Labuschagne got going with a boundary off Mohammed Siraj. In the first session, Labuschagne was cautious as Steve Smith did all the scoring. However, in the post-lunch session, the momentum changed. Labuschagne hit a pull shot off Navdeep Saini and although Washington Sundar got his maiden Test wicket in Steve Smith for 36, Labuschagne was in that zone now.

Along the way, he had plenty of fortune as he edged Navdeep Saini to gully where Ajinkya Rahane put down a simple catch. The immediate aftermath of that was Navdeep Saini suffering a groin injury and walking off. Labuschagne made India pay in a big way.

Glory in the Brisbane Test

Labuschagne made steady progress by piercing the gaps regularly as he notched up his fifty. Matthew Wade struck boundaries at will, including two in one over of Shardul Thakur as Australia were exploiting the batting conditions well. Labuschagne also went after Thakur with two boundaries as the inexperience of the Indian cricket team bowling line-up started to hurt them. Labuschagne signed off the tea session with a four off Washington Sundar and after the break, he continued on his merry ways.

Australia was scoring at close to five runs an over in the hour before the tea break and after as India totally lost the momentum. Labuschagne notched up his century when he drove Mohammed Siraj to deep extra cover and ran four runs as he celebrated in grand style and ensured his contribution would go a long way in Australia winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back.

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