(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja backed the ability of his teammate, Marnus Labuschagne, who has been selected in the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, starting from 5th October.
The middle-order batter, Labuschagne, received a late entry into the World Cup squad as he wasn’t originally in the Australia provisional 15-player contingent announced earlier. However, due to a calf injury to Ashton Agar, he got picked for the marquee event.
He has also established himself in ODI cricket, being the top run-scorer for Australia in 2023, smashing 464 runs in 10 innings with an average of 51.55. Labuschagne played some impressive innings recently in South Africa and India, which forced selectors to pick him on merit.
Khawaja praised Labuschagne, stating that his inclusion in the squad is entirely justifiable as he rarely misses an opportunity to prove himself.
“He just weasels his way in there, doesn’t he? He just lurks in there. It’s funny, you give Marnus an opportunity, he very rarely misses out. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s in there. He always had it in him,” said Khawaja while talking with Fox Cricket.
Khawaja further mentioned that Labuschagne played some excellent cricket recently while representing Queensland.
“He’s played some beautiful innings for Queensland in the past, and I think he’s found that form again at the international level. But it’s always hard to do at the international level because his spot was never certain and it still isn’t,” he added.
The 29-year-old Labuschagne has played 38 ODI matches for Australia, gathering 1,268 runs with an average of 37.29. He has also registered eight half-centuries and two hundreds in the format. He made his ODI debut against India in 2020 at Wankhede Stadium.