Marnus Labuschagne has “sacrificed himself” to allow David Warner, whose position in the Australian side has been under fire after a lean patch of form, to continue batting.
Labuschagne was cruising on 14 from 35 deliveries, in a solid 54-run partnership with David Warner, before being run out trying to steal a second run from an errant overthrow in the field.
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Warner had dropped a defensive shot into short cover and taken off for a quick single, to which Labuschagne responded immediately, scampering in for a relatively comfortable single.
Dean Elgar came in from the covers to swoop on the ball and have a shy at the stumps, and missed, but Labuschagne was always home.
The throw was backed up by Keshav Maharaj, but he was so far back at fine leg that Warner thought there was another run in it.
Running back to what he thought was the danger end, Warner was ready to get back for an overthrow, and started creeping back towards the striker’s end before Labuschagne had even turned his back.
Labuschagne had run well past the stumps at the striker’s end when Warner called out to him to turn around and try for a second run.
By the time Labuschagne realised Warner wanted a second run, Warner had already committed.
With Maharaj already picking up the ball at short fine leg, Labuschagne was faced with the decision to either send Warner back to an almost certain run-out, or attempt the suicide run himself.
Nobly, he chose the latter, “putting himself into the jaws of death”, as Channel 7 commentator Tim Lane said.
“He lunges but the South Africans are confident they have got him,” Lane said on commentary at the time.
“Umpire Reiffel wants it checked. It looks as though Labuschagne is short – he sacrificed himself there. I think that was a very chivalrous action.
“Warner had committed but he didn’t have as far to get back as Labuschagne had when he took off and committed himself, putting himself into the jaws of death. And he had fallen half a metre short.”
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the second run was never really there.
“Well, it was Dean Elgar, the South African captain that almost affected the first run out,” Ponting said.
“He had the shot of the stumps at the keeper’s end which led to the attempted overthrow. Warner was in and out of the bowler’s end really quickly, wanted to get back for two and it wasn’t there.”
Warner lived to fight another day on 47 not out, while Labuschagne had to depart for 14.
Simon Katich had no doubt that Labuschagne’s decision was both deliberate and selfless.
“I think Marnus Labuschagne has helped Dave Warner out there massively, because, to be fair to him, he only just got in on that dicey single and when you see that there, he knew he had to go because Warner had committed,” Katich said.
“Dave Warner didn’t factor in how deep Marnus Labuschagne had run through the crease line. That is what you have to do as the batting partner. You have to take that quick, split second reaction, see where your partner is and realise he has a lot further to go.
“It is alright for him to get back down the other end, but Marnus Labuschagne had no chance in the end. He was run out by two feet.”
Former Australian coach Justin Langer called it a “cardinal sin”, with the same thing having happened to South African captain Dean Elgar on day one, which sparked a sensational batting collapse for the Proteas.
“I felt yesterday when the captain Dean Elgar was run out it was the turning point of the game,” he said.
“There was a huge opportunity for South Africa yesterday after Pat Cummins put them into bat. They seemed to be going OK and then that run-out and then they lost those quick wickets just before lunch.
“It will be interesting to see if that has an effect on this batting innings. A run-out is a cardinal sin in Test cricket. I have said it a few times over summer. There is nothing worse for individual, like Marnus, but for the team. It can always change the momentum of the game.”
