Marnus Labuschagne has added another feather to his cap, snagging two wickets bowling off-spin in England.
Although his cricketing capabilities are more commonly associated with batting, the Queenslander is a more than capable bowler.
However, he’s typically bowled leg-spin or medium pace on the odd occasion that he has trundled up to the crease.
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After second division County Championship side Glamorgan won the toss, they sent Durham in to bat.
Labuschagne rolled his arm for 15 overs, conceded 73 runs, and recorded just one maiden.
He dismissed Durham’s Michael Jones for 69 and wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson for 73.
The affable Australian’s first wicket was an lbw after Jones tried to reverse sweep and missed.
He then got Robinson who edged one to the keeper, although his reaction suggested he didn’t think he hit the ball.
Glamorgan coach Matt Maynard hailed Labuschagne’s adaptability, explaining the sudden style switch.
“Marnus does what Marnus wants,” said Maynard.
“With his leg-spin, (Mitch) Swepson is there at Queensland. He feels that if he can develop his off-spin more, and he’s been bowling all the time in the nets with it, that he could also be another weapon for them.
“Obviously the ball turns the other way to Swepson and (Matt) Kuhnemann, another teammate.
“That’s why he’s done it. He does spin it, but he was just a little bit nervous today, bowling it for the first time in a professional game.”
The decision to bowl didn’t pay dividends for the home side as Glamorgan went on to make 6-382 on day one of the four-day match.
Labuschange wasn’t the only Australian in action. Michael Neser bowled 19 overs, conceded 55 runs, recorded five maidens, and took one wicket.
“We thought it might do a little bit more this morning session,” Maynard said of the decision to bowl first.
“We didn’t get too much out of it though.
“Michael Neser on his first day and Timm van der Gugten were exceptional … but throughout the course of the day we didn’t string enough tight overs together.”
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