Cricket: Australia's Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith face criticism over batting theatrics

Steve Smith (L) and Marnus Labuschagne can be plain weird at times. Photo / FOX SPORTS

Australians love them because they're two of their best batsmen and are so obsessed with cricket it can only be good for the fortunes of their national team.

But be honest: if a visiting cricketer carried on like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne do at the crease would Australians celebrate them – or find it annoying?

For the first time this summer a few murmurs have emerged which indicate the over-the-top leaves and "no runs" from Australia's number three and four batsmen aren't for everyone.

With a billion cricket lovers to choose from, it's not hard to find an Indian on social media to suit any argument you're looking to push. But a few have piped up this summer to tell the Aussie odd couple to grow up.

Unlike Australian commentators, I do not find the mannerisms of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne cute. They are both excellent batsmen. One is 31 years old, another is 26. Both should be capable of behaving like normal grown-up men.

— Kunal Singh (@d_extrovert) January 8, 2021

Smith is irritated that Labuschagne is doing his antics and getting attention and so he is overdoing it now :) #INDvAUS

— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) January 7, 2021

And now, thanks to a hot microphone at Friday night's Big Bash League match, we also have evidence Smith and Labuschagne's theatrics don't sit all that comfortably with some Australian greats from earlier generations.

"Jeez it's annoying … Just f***ing bat properly," Shane Warne was heard saying about Labuschagne's high-energy efforts to Andrew Symonds, who also expressed his exasperation.

Earlier in the summer Allan Border was a little more diplomatic but just as bemused. "That is odd behaviour," he said, after Labuschagne walked to the middle in Adelaide and immediately began shouting "no run" even when he was leaving the ball.

Marnus displaying all his variations of the 'No Run!' #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gLQZjI50B7

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 18, 2020

The saving grace for both players is their actions appear entirely self-focused. These aren't attention-seekers. All they want to do is plunder run after run and have apparently decided being positive in every movement they make at the crease – no matter how weird it might look – gives them the best chance to do that.

Labuschagne might have been aware a camera was on him while batting in the nets in the video below, but you can imagine this is standard behaviour even when the spotlight is turned off.

Get up close and real personal with Marnus Labuschagne in the nets... The ending is 🤣#AUSvIND | @alintaenergy pic.twitter.com/zi835srmoj

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2021

The other factor in Smith and Labuschagne's favour is none of their opponents appear to have even the slightest problem with it.

That's exactly how the majority of Australians feel too and given how successful the batting clones have been – and how vulnerable the rest of the side's line-up is currently – they can hardly afford to be picky about how they go about it.