South Africa has a cunning plan to sledge Marnus Labuschagne by using his background against him

There will be a case of what might have been when South Africa lines up against the Aussie Test cricket side at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday.

Because the ICC No.1 batsman in the world will line up for the Aussies, not South Africa which is the country of his birth.

Marnus Labuschagne exploded back to form against the West Indies and will be the obvious threat the Proteas will be looking to shut down. 

abuschagne (2nd R) and Cameron Green (R) sign autographs after their victory during the fourth day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and the West Indis

In the two-Test series Labuschagne smashed 500 runs at an average of 125, including a massive double century in Perth backed up by a ton in the second innings. 

In Adelaide, he kept his sparkling form going with 163 runs in the first innings before falling for 31 in the second dig as the Aussies chased quick runs. 

Labuschagne was born in Klerksdorp, in South Africa’s North West province before his family moved to Australia when he was 10.

Labuschagne wears a South African shirt and his cricket gear as a child with father Andre and sister Ame

A young Labuschagne practices the stroke play he has become known for in the Australian Test cricket side

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar knows the threat that Labuschagne poses and said speaking to him in his native Afrikaans might be a trick used to throw him off his game. 

‘He is one of the form batters in the world and I am sure there is going to be a little bit of extra spice knowing he is ex-South African as well,’ Elgar said.

When asked whether he would chip away in Afrikaans to Labuschagne, Elgar responded ‘possibly … my last encounter with him was in an [English] county game and he spoke Afrikaans to me and I was like, OK. Who knows? We will see.’

It will be a huge occasion for Labuschagne, who has South African parents and grew up idolising some of the Proteas greatest ever players.  

‘The likes of Jacques Kallis … I’ve had it quite clear he was one of my favourite players growing up and I had many posters on the wall growing up there and following the cricket in South Africa,’ Labuschagne told News Corp this season. 

‘As you are growing up you have your players you love watching and Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis were probably the two really big ones that I grew up loving.’

Dean Elgar of South Africa leaves the field after being dismissed during day one of the Tour Match between Australia A and South Africa at Allan Border Field

‘It’s always a little bit more special when you’re playing a series against the country you were born in and you’ve got a soft spot for South Africa. It’s always nice to be able to play against them and obviously do well.’

While Labuschagne was in champagne form against the West Indies, he had been in cask wine nick in the lead-up in the Sheffield Shield.

In four matches the Queenslander had only scored 158 runs across five innings with at an average of just 31.60. The majority of those runs came in a single knock of 127 as the Test star struggled to find his best touch.

But when he tasked with standing up at international level, he shone again which former Test skipper Mark Taylor said was ominous for the South Africans.

‘For a guy who came into the series not in great form, to be man of the series just shows you sometimes you just need some greater challenges to bring out the best in you,’ he said.

‘So, he looks in good form, which is good news for Australia leading into the South African series.’