Australia’s top batsman Marnus Labuschen believes that the way India batted on the fourth day of the Sydney Test, their players could not change much. But he said that the hosts are committed to winning the series by defeating India in Brisbane.
The Indian batsmen chased a mammoth target of 407 runs and drew the Sydney Test due to excellent batting. Labushen, who played innings of 91 and 73 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, told ‘Cricket.com.au’, ‘We played the Test match today (draw) but it is a Test series and we are here to win.’
He said, ‘Whatever be the outcome of this match, if we register a win or it was a draw, we have to go to Gaba and win. So nothing has changed for us, it is just a matter of changing our focus and making sure that we beat them in Gaba. Hanuma Vihari (23 not out from 161 balls) and Ravichandran Ashwin (39 not out off 128 balls) batted for the third day on the fifth day while Rishabh Pant (97 off 118 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77 off 205 balls) scored 148. India added 334 for five wickets in 131 overs.
Labushen said Australia expected a little more help from the fifth day’s pitch but gave credit to the Indian batsmen for drawing the match at the crease. He said, “On the fifth day pitch at Sydney Cricket Ground, there is usually more breakage, slightly more uneven bounce but if a team plays 131 overs they are credited.”
Labushen said, “He batted well, he stood firm and I think there was not much we could change.” Apart from Australia’s fast bowling trio of Pat Cummins (26-6-72-1), Josh Hazlewood (26-12-39-2) and Mitchell Starc (22-6-66-0), spinner Nathan Lyon (46-17) -114-2) tried all the arrows of his quiver but could not stop the India batsmen.