Cricket icons and fans couldn’t believe their eyes when an Aussie star enjoyed a moment of incredible good fortune on Boxing Day.
Cricket fans were gobsmacked Marnus Labuschagne was given a reprieve when he looked certain to be out LBW on day one of the Boxing Day Test.
The Aussie first drop was given out by the on-field umpire when he tried to sweep off-spinner Ravi Ashwin shortly before lunch, the ball looking like it was going to cannon into middle stump.
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However, Labuschagne reviewed the decision and technology was on his side, Hawkeye predicting the ball would have sailed over the top of the timber.
Speaking after play, the Queenslander said he was never in any doubt he would be safe.
“Yeah straight away I thought, ‘Jeez, that’s going over’,” Labuschagne told ABC Grandstand. “If you ask any of my teammates that’s just normal, I hate being out, I am never out!”
Few people shared Labuschagne’s view though. Former Australian leg-spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said in commentary for Fox Sports: “I think ball-tracker had one too many shirazes yesterday. For mine, that was hitting halfway up middle and leg. What is going on there?”
Fellow leggie and Fox Cricket caller Shane Warne added: “I thought he must have hit it because he went upstairs so quickly. I can’t believe this was going over the top of the stumps.
“Look where he is, it’s on the knee roll, he’s down crouched as well. I thought at worst case it would have been just clipping leg stump, got some part of leg stump and he’d be on his way.”
Cricket lovers watching the action on TV were quick to have their say on social media, and they all seemed to be in agreement Labuschagne was lucky to survive.
NRL commentator Dan Ginnane joked: “One day somebody will get bowled and DRS will have it going over.”
Greg Jericho wrote: “Bradman would have averaged 200 if he had the DRS to use.”
Alex Fair said “DRS obviously enjoyed itself too much on Christmas Day” and journalist Stephen Quartermain tweeted: “The DRS at the MCG needs recalibration.”
Labuschagne would go on to top score for the Aussies with 48 before being caught at leg gully off the bowling of debutant Mohammed Siraj.
The home side was skittled for 195 on a disappointing opening day as India moved to 1/36 at stumps.
