BGT 2024-25: "I'd have told him to get out.." Matthew Hayden slams Marnus Labuschagne for getting distracted by Siraj's bail-swap

Marnus Labuschagne scored 12 runs off 55 balls in Australia’s first innings at the Gabba.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has laid out scathing criticism for Marnus Labuschagne’s response to Mohammed Siraj’s bail-swap antic during day 2 of the Gabba test.

After hitting a crisp half-century in the second test in Adelaide and showing promising signs of getting back his lost form and consistency, Labuschagne reverted to his shell in the third test at the Gabba. His feet remained stuck once again, as it were in Perth, and he managed only 12 runs off 55 balls without a single boundary.

An over before his dismissal off Akash Deep’s bowling, Labuschagne had a mini-exchange with India pacer Siraj.

In the 33rd over of Australia’s innings, Siraj and Marnus had a few words exchanged as the bowler was walking back to his bowling mark. Siraj picked up the bails at the non-striker’s end and swapped it – an activity made famous by Stuart Broad in last year’s Ashes series as an omen to bring good luck to the team.

After Siraj walked past, Labuschagne re-swapped the bails to its original position. The bail-swap superstition worked for India as in the next over, Labuschagne edged to Virat Kohli at second slip off Akash’s bowling.

Matthew Hayden criticizes Marnus Labuschagne for losing focus by Siraj’s bail-swap antic

Speaking with Star Sports, Hayden lashed out at Labuschagne for getting distracted by Siraj’s actions which shouldn’t have concerned him.

“He saw 55 deliveries, has had no go forward whatsoever. Even that little exchange, if it was me at the crease and a bowler does that. I am not caring less. I’m not even looking at the bowler. I’m not acknowledging what he’s doing one bit. He’s nowhere near my space. In fact, I probably would have told him to get out of my space before he even got to the bails,” Hayden said on Star Sports.

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