I was handling the Hot Spot camera in 2010 series, Marnus Labuschagne reveals his interesting Ashes memory

David Warner and Steve Smith getting banned for their involvement in the ball-tampering row led to Cricket Australia looking for their replacements over the next 12 months. The search led to them stumbling upon Marnus Labuschagne who has now made it to the Ashes squad as well and will probably live his dream in the opening Test. Not many would’ve even thought that he will be in the team for the prestigious series when Labuschagne was the Hot Spot guy in the Ashes 2010.

The man himself has revealed an interesting memory related to the Ashes and was handling the camera when Peter Siddle took a hat-trick by dismissing Stuart Broad at the Gabba. With Nathan Lyon being the only specialist spinner in the squad, Australia will require Labuschagne’s services at some point in the five-match series as he is a decent leg-spinner as well.

While speaking to Sydney Morning Herald Marnus Labuschagne gave insights on his life around nine years ago when he worked for Channel Nine. “One of my coolest memories of the Ashes was I was working for Channel 9 as, like, the Hot Spot guy.

“I was moving the Hot Spot camera [in 2010] when Sidds got his hat-trick. I was doing Hot Spot for the game, up on the second level, like moving the camera from side to side and I was there for the hat-trick, that was pretty cool,” the 25-year-old said.

I was paid $90 per day

Interestingly, Marnus Labuschagne was paid to $90 every day for handling the Hot Spot camera. These were the days when not many countries had opted for the Decision Review System (DRS) and there was a lot of argument about its accuracy.

“I was literally a ring-in. I knew some guy and I got paid to watch the game, so it was a win for me back then. I was getting paid, like $90 a day, to move the camera around,” Labuschagne further added. As far as the opening game is concerned, the Queensland cricketer has every chance of making his Ashes debut in Birmingham depending on the conditions. If the sun comes out, Australia might need Labuschagne’s leg-spin and has a good chance of playing a crucial role.