Marnus Labuschagne Sets Record with Slowest Australian Test Innings

In an unusual display of cricket at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne recorded the slowest innings ever by an Australian in Test cricket. On November 22nd, Labuschagne attempted to grind out runs on a challenging pitch described as a «minefield,» resulting in a painstakingly slow performance against India.

Labuschagne, aged 30, began his innings with a cautious approach, accruing only a solitary run from his first 40 deliveries. His strategy appeared to be one of endurance, anticipating that conditions would improve once the ball aged. Unfortunately for Labuschagne and his team, the anticipated opportunity to accelerate never materialized.

The right-handed batsman was eventually dismissed for just 2 runs off 52 balls, setting an unwanted record with a strike rate of 3.85. This surpassed the previous record of a 4.08 strike rate held by Steve O’Keefe, who faced Sri Lanka in 2016.

Labuschagne’s inning was briefly prolonged due to a dropped catch by Indian captain Virat Kohli. In a rare lapse, Kohli missed an opportunity at second slip off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, allowing Labuschagne to continue. Despite the reprieve, Labuschagne could not capitalize, managing to add only two runs to the scoreboard before his dismissal.

Australia found themselves in dire straits at 47/6 at the end of the 21st over, struggling against a formidable Indian bowling attack. Labuschagne’s record-breaking innings has now joined a list of low strike rate performances, with Murray Bennett‘s 1984 innings against the West Indies being another notable entry.