AUS vs WI: Labuschagne joins elite group with double and single century in same Test

The masterful number three was not out 104 when Australia declared its second innings at lunch on day four and set the West Indies 498 to win the first Test in Perth.

Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne celebrates after scoring a century against West Indies in the first Test at Perth. | Photo Credit: AFP

Run machine Marnus Labuschagne joined an elite group of just eight players Saturday to make double and single centuries in the same Test, admitting “a bit of luck” helped him to the feat.

The masterful number three was not out 104 when Australia declared its second innings at lunch on day four and set the West Indies 498 to win the first Test in Perth.

It followed his 204 in the first innings and made him only the third Australian to hit 200 and 100 in the same Test, after Doug Walters and Greg Chappell.

Only five others have made the grade, including West Indies greats Brian Lara and Lawrence Rowe, India’s Sunil Gavaskar, England’s Graham Gooch and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, Cricket Australia said.

Labuschagne was targeted by a series of short balls by Alzarri Joseph early in his knock Saturday, including an edge that hit his helmet and was caught at gully while he was on 19.

He was preparing to walk off the field when a no-ball was called and he made the most of his life to reach the milestone.

“Obviously a bit of luck today with that bouncer, he (Joseph) was bowling fast there and it got away,” Labuschagne said.

“It’s always nice, it’s something I’ve never done in Test cricket (double century and century in the same match), very proud.”