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'He's Playing For His Career': O'Keeffe On Labuschagne As Aussies Eye Cape Town Win

Cape Town Test: With so much on the line on the final day of a gripping Test series between South Africa and Australia, Australian cricket great Kerry O'Keeffe feels that Marnus Labuschagne will be batting to play for his career on Day 5 of the Cape Town Test on Saturday. The series is locked 1-1, and Australia need 288 to secure a famous win and keep the No.1 Test rankings. The visitors are without their talisman Steve Smith, as the new-generation batters Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey showed muscle in the first innings. Now with the series on the line after South Africa were bowled out for 387, Australia will want their batters to fire and hand them the series. O'Keeffe opined that Labuschagne, who has gone without scoring a Test century since 2023, will be playing for his career now in the second innings. I think hes playing for his career in this second innings, OKeeffe said, as quoted by foxsports.com.au. Hes been a marvellous player, but hes in a drought, and theyve given him a lot of opportunity to get out of it. It hasnt happened yet. Ex-Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian believed that uncertainty around the batter's future can give him freedom to play in the second innings. Hes got an advantage here to go; if theyre going to drop me, Im just going to go for it. Im going to play my shots, Julian told foxsports.com.au. Hes looked tentative. He hasnt looked settled at the crease. I think this is an opportunity for him just to let it go and swing hard. Thats what Id be doing, he added and opined that Labuschagne won't be playing the next Test match. I dont think hes going to play the next Test match in Perth, Julian said. Meanwhile, another Aussie great Michael Hussey has not written the batter off. Well, Id never say its the end of his Test career if he doesnt make runs this time, Hussey told foxsports.com.au. Hes looked tentative. He hasnt looked settled at the crease. I think this is an opportunity for him just to let it go and swing hard. Thats what Id be doing, he added and opined that Labuschagne won't be playing the next Test match. I dont think hes going to play the next Test match in Perth, Julian said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS