AUS vs PAK: Marnus Labuschagne set for Boxing Day Test return after injury scare in Perth

After surviving a serious finger injury scare, Marnus Labuschagne confirmed his readiness for the upcoming Boxing Day Test following Australia's commanding 360-run win over Pakistan at the demanding Optus Stadium. Labuschagne, among several Aussie batters, felt the heat in the second innings and had endured a rough knock on his right-hand little finger during the sixth over. 

The delivery, propelled by debutant fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, leapt off the pitch and struck Labuschagne hard. Despite seeking immediate medical attention, he had valiantly resumed batting, albeit briefly, before being dismissed for two runs. The right-handed batter, who had scored 16 in the first innings, faced a race against time to recover for the crucial upcoming Test match.

"The finger is fine, there's no break. It hit me more on the knuckle side and sort of just jammed up my hand. It just got me in a bit of an awkward spot. There was no padding on that side of the glove, so it just didn't feel that good. I was a bit nervous. I've had a lot of finger blows, but it just felt a bit different. It was a little bit sore overnight," Labuschagne said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

'But no one likes batting when it's up and down' - Labuschagne

Ahead of day four's play at Optus Stadium, Marnus Labuschagne underwent an hour-long stint in the nets, facing the rapid deliveries of Lance Morris, a contender for the title of the nation's fastest bowler and a member of Australia's initial Test squad. He wasn't the only one tested by the hostile Pakistani pace; Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith also felt the impact on their arms. Meanwhile, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh faced a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, enduring two blows to the helmet from Pakistan's aggressive quicks during the intense day's play.

"It [net session] wasn't to test the finger out, it was to bat...something I didn't do enough of in this game. "Uz seems fine and Steve is all good. It was brutal there at the end with the cracks opening up. We're all used to the bounce, played a lot here and some of us have good records in Perth. But no one likes batting when it's up and down [and] sharp steep bounce on a fast wicket. That's not your cup of tea, but you just have to find a way when it's like that," Labuschagne concluded.