'I just made a few poor decisions that were really wide' - Marnus Labuschagne reflects on his dismissals from Edgbaston Test

Pat Cummins-led Australia registered a narrow two-wicket victory in the first Test of the Ashes 2023 against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Despite winning the game, it was a match to forget for star batter Marnus Labuschagne. Being one of the best Test batters in world cricket, Labuschagne was expected to perform at the peak of his powers and be one of the best performers for Australia in the first game.

However, things didn't go as planned for the 29-year-old, as he only managed to score 13 runs across the two innings of the game. It is also worth noting that he was dismissed by veteran English pacer Stuart Broad in both innings after he nicked an outside off ball straight into the hands of Jonny Bairstow twice. 

Ahead of the second Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, Labuschagne batted extensively in training to prepare better to answer Broad in the game. Furthermore, he also came forward to talk about his performance and say that the conditions at Edgbaston played a big role in his dismissal.

"When you get out first ball you just throw it in the bag. Potentially I thought that they were going to come straight and then he got a nice ball that swung in the right area, with a lack of bounce at Edgbaston, it sucks you in to thinking you can hit the ball a bit more and I just made a few poor decisions [against balls] that were really wide. They'd be eighth or ninth stump, some of those deliveries," Marnus Labuschagne was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

He's done his homework: Labuschagne

Furthermore, Labuschagne did not shy away from giving credit where credit was due to Broad. The 29-year-old stated that it was clear that Broad had done his homework and had outthought him.

"He's 2 and 0 now so he's done his homework, that first [and only] ball I got in the first innings was a very nice ball. I haven't faced Stuart Broad where he's really been able to swing it away. He usually angles in, and that one definitely swung," Labuschagne said.