'Mum Was Adamant I Will Play': Marnus Labuschagne After Match-Winning Knock vs South Africa

Following his match-winning half-century against South Africa in the first ODI, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne revealed how his mother had a belief that he would feature in the match despite him not being in the team and he ended up playing. Batter Marnus Labuschagne made a timely statement after his omission from the World Cup 2023 squad with a gutsy, match-winning half-century and century stand with Ashton Agar to guide Australia to a three-wicket win over South Africa in the first ODI of a five-match series on Friday night.

After the match, Labuschagne said, "She stayed for the whole game … she was adamant when I came here that I was going to play this game and I told her 'I have seen the team, mum, I am not in the team'," Labuschagne recalled in the post-match presentation as quoted by cricket.com.au.

"She just had a feeling, and once again she's right," he added.

The batter revealed that he has been training really well, something he is proud about and makes sure he is ready always.

"The opportunity that happens when you are a concussion sub is sometimes a little bit of a free hit because the pressure of the game is out there but obviously the expectation is probably not as much on you. I have been really disappointed with how I have played my one-day cricket, the last 10 to 12 games I felt like I have not shown the intensity and the courage that I would have liked," Labuschagne said.

He admitted that he was not too shocked after being omitted from the squad and understood why he was out.

"I was not too shocked when I when I was dropped, I said that to the selectors (that) 'I understand, I haven't made runs'," said Labuschagne.

"When I came back from the Ashes, I went back to the drawing board and really