Marnus Labuschagne has come under fire for selecting a rather unusual fielding set-up during Queensland’s Sheffield Shield curtain-raiser against Western Australia.
The 30-year-old batter had been announced as the Bulls’ new permanent captain earlier this summer, succeeding Usman Khawaja in the leadership role for the 2024-25 season.
But his side faced a tough opener against the defending champions, who came out to score a healthy first-innings score of 465.
That came thanks to two centuries from captain Sam Whiteman and Josh Inglis, who both steadied the ship after Cameron Bancroft endured a nightmare start to the season, falling on the first ball of the innings.
Shortly after, Jayden Goodwin was dismissed for a duck, with Queensland’s Michael Neser taking both wickets.
Neser went on to enjoy an excellent first session in the field, taking five wickets for an economy of 2.72, while the captain, Labuschagne, would bring himself into the action, bowling six overs during the first day.
Marnus Labsuchagne has left fans divided over a bizarre fielding set up during Queensland’s opening Sheffield Shield match
Labuschagne opted to bowl several overs during the first innings, and was seen reconfiguring his field just before bowling to WA’s Josh Inglis
In his second over, the Australian international would come up against Inglis at the striker’s end, but just before he began his run-up, the Queensland captain stopped to reset his field.
Bizarrely, he called Tom Straker to come and stand next to him, positioning the fielder behind the umpire. He paused again for a moment, before grabbing Straker – who was wearing a maroon cap – and pulling him by the pants even further across, positioning him at the start of his run-up.
Labuschagne would steam in, bowling over the wicket to Inglis, but would pitch his delivery short, with the ball bouncing over the batsman.
The moment left the commentary team scratching their heads, while some online hit out at Labuschagne, claiming that he had deliberately placed a fielder wearing a red cap in the batsman’s sight line.
Commentators were left perplexed by the bizarre field position, with Labuschagne subsequently running in to bowl
But it appears the striker was not phased by the Queensland star’s antics, with Labuschagne bowling a bouncer
‘Is he really going to stand there behind the umpire,’ one commentator said.
‘What do you call that position, straight on?’ he added before his co-commentator added: ‘I don’t know… brain fade I’d call it? You wonder what he’s going to do, don’t you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that!’
Fans on social media were mixed over the field position, with one claiming it was a ‘dog move’.
‘I’ve seen that… in local grade cricket as I was batting against the opposition captain bowling at me. It’s a dog move and poor sportsmanship. I actually refused to take guard and we had a stalemate for about five minutes,’ the X (formerly Twitter) user wrote.
Fans hit out at the Aussie star on X (formerly Twitter) with one claiming it was a ‘dog move’
One called it a ‘schoolboy plot to disturb the batter’, while another said: ‘So he put the fielder in a red cap right behind his bowling arm. Classy.’
While some said if they were in Inglis’ position, they’d step away from the crease.
‘If I was the batsman, I’d refuse to face up until that fielder with his red cap is moved right out of the line of the sight screen.’
Labuschagne would go on to enjoy a decent day with the ball, taking two wickets for five runs.
Some fans lauded the Australian, writing on X: ‘Marnus Labuschagne’s captaincy is always entertaining! His energy and unique style make for some unforgettable moments on the field. Can’t wait to watch!’
Some fans lauded the Queensland star, with one stating that his ‘captaincy is always entertaining’
‘And that’s the very reason why it’s probably good captaincy (just make the batsmen think something weird is going on is enough to make it worthwhile for a period).’
‘I love Marnus, but god help us if he ever captains Australia,’ another wrote.
