Joe Root appeared to cheekily joke that Marnus Labuschagne had smeared super glue on his hand, as he and the Australian shared a light-hearted moment on Sunday in Adelaide.
The Queensland batsman had produced one of the most incredible fielding performances during the third Test, taking five catches to help Australia seal an 82-run victory and retain the urn.
Labuschagne was particularly brilliant in the slips during England’s second innings, taking two absolutely incredible diving efforts to dismiss Ollie Pope and Will Jacks.
Root, who appeared enamoured by the Glamorgan star’s fielding, grabbed the Aussie by the wrist as he was seen lining up to shake Labuschagne’s hand after the match. He then jokingly checked if the Aussie had any super glue on his hands, a nod to just how good Labuschagne’s catching was during the second innings.
Labuschagne laughed back at the banter from Root, before heading into the changing rooms to celebrate the victory with his team-mates.
On Saturday, the Aussie top-order batsman helped his side secure an early breakthrough, combining with Pat Cummins to dismiss Ben Duckett for four runs.
Joe Root appeared to cheekily joke that Marnus Labuschagne had smeared super glue on his hand, as he and the Australian shared a lighthearted moment on Sunday in Adelaide
Labuschagne produced a sensational fielding performance during the third Test, notably taking five catches
Two of those catches included two sensational diving efforts, with the first of those seeing Labuschagne (pictured) dive low to his left to remove Ollie Pope
Pope then arrived at the crease, but would only face 29 deliveries, with Labuschagne producing the most outrageous catch – getting down low to his left-hand side to pluck the ball out of the air – to send the Surrey batter walking.
On Sunday, he repeated that epic feat of athleticism to remove England all-rounder Will Jacks. It was a crucial wicket and came just as the tourists had whittled their target down to 98 runs, with Labuschagne again getting down to his left to take another stunning catch.
Labuschagne then wrapped up the victory for Australia, with Josh Tongue edging a delivery from Scott Boland out to the Queensland batter who safely held the catch to seal the win.
Interestingly, his epic performance in the field comes after Labuschagne had admitted that he had made several tweaks to his catching technique after a conversation with Beau Webster and Steve Smith during Australia’s first innings in Adelaide.
‘I was about halfway through the first innings, and Beau Webster was standing next to me,’ Labuschagne told Kayo Sports.
‘I was like: “What do you watch at third slip?” and he said: “I watch the ball”.
‘I usually watch the ball at first and then the bat from there on.
‘[Steve Smith] was like: “I always watch the ball everywhere”.
Later on Sunday, Labuschagne (left) then produced another epic catch to dismiss Will Jacks with another stunner
Labuschagne (centre) wheeled away in jubilation after dismissing Jacks on Sunday
‘Ah well, looks like I’ll watch the ball then… I watched the ball for the majority of the game, so looks like I’m watching the ball!’
Labuschagne’s incredible catches came after Steve Smith had produced an equally impressive grab during the pink-ball Test at The Gabba to also dismiss Will Jacks.
The 31-year-old said it was nice to be able to stand up in a big moment for his side but added that he’s only been keeping the first slip slot warm for the stand-in skipper, who had been ruled out of the third Test due to an illness.
‘You always want to be that person to grab the big moment when it comes,’ he said.
‘And today it just felt like…it was a bit of a partnership (between Jacks and Carse) and to hang onto that one just swung things back to our favour.
‘It’s always nice when you’re that person, kept the spot warm for Steve there.
‘He can come back next week and park himself back up at second (slip).’
