Marnus Labuschagne, the premier Australian cricket star known for his impressive skills with the bat, found himself at the center of an unusual incident during the Lord’s Ashes Test. Cameras captured a moment that left fans astounded and a little disgusted as he was getting ready to face the next ball.
A sticky mishap on the Pitch
As tweeted by @Sports_Himanshu, it happened during Australia’s innings when Labuschagne was preparing to face Stuart Broad for the 43rd over. Engrossed in adjusting his gear, the gum slipped out of his mouth and onto the pitch.
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To the surprise of many, Labuschagne seemed unfazed by this mishap. He bent down, plucked the gum from the Lord’s surface with the same ease as if picking flowers from a garden, inspected it briefly, and resumed chewing.
Watch Marnus Labuschagne picking the chewing gum and eating it back after it slipped on the ground from his mouth, in the latest Ashes development.#TheAshes #ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/PzH1rpEaWN
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) June 29, 2023
The video of Labuschagne casually retrieving and consuming the fallen gum spread like wildfire. Consequently, it has led to a flurry of reactions from cricket fans across various social media platforms.
Fan reactions and Social Media Trolling
Social media was flooded with humorous and sarcastic comments directed at the Australian batsman. Some fans compared Labuschagne to a part-time cricketer and full-time environmental activist, highlighting the unusual nature of his actions.
He is part time cricketer and full time environment activist 👍 https://t.co/EqXsl0uzyH
— SRB👨🏻🦯 (@SRBSHUKLA14) June 29, 2023
Others jokingly mentioned the need to sanitize their eyes after witnessing the incident.
I need to sanitize my eyes
— Bleed Blue (@CricCrazyVeena) June 29, 2023
Some even called him crazy.
He must be crazy!
— Jose Puliampatta (Prof. Bala) (@JosePuliampatta) June 30, 2023
However, a few playful tweets referenced the infamous “five-second rule” when it comes to food dropped on the ground.
5 seconds rule dude 😉😂
— Life Coach 😉 (@thegooddoctor_0) June 30, 2023
Despite the amusing reactions, Labuschagne remained focused on discussing his team’s batting performance after the day’s play. In an interview with BBC, he acknowledged the challenges of playing at Lord’s and adjusting to the presence of the members in the stands.
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“They’ve done such a good job. Facing a bowler like Stuart Broad for 15-20 overs when batting at the number three position is no easy feat. When Broad gains momentum, he goes to another level so to be able to shut that out – it certainly looked like it worked today,” he said.
Also Read: VIDEO: Bizarre Scenes Occur at an International Match as British Player Drags Intruder off the Pitch
Despite the attention garnered by this unusual act, Labuschagne remained focused on discussing his team’s achievements on the field. As fans continue to react to this incident, one can’t help but wonder what other surprises cricket has in store.
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Will Labuschagne’s gum adventure become a mere footnote or be remembered as a quirky moment in cricket history? Only time will tell. However, you guys can share if the five-second rule applies here or not. Also, let us know if you have also made use of this rule ever before.