When Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne walks out to bat, it’s not just his talent and training that steadies him. It’s his faith. From backyard games in South Africa to the international cricket stage, Marnus has carried with him a strong sense of purpose that is grounded in his relationship with Jesus.
Growing up in a Christian home, Marnus says faith was always a natural part of life. “I just grew up in a Christian family. A relationship with Jesus is something I can’t even imagine life without,” he says.
That relationship with God has only grown stronger through his cricketing journey. Even before he became a household name, Marnus’s mum would write Bible verses inside his shoes. “She’s a beautiful lady,” Marnus says. “She used to do that every season.”
A Strong Sense of Purpose
These days, he keeps Isaiah 40:31 on the back of his cricket bat as a quiet reminder that he’s not playing for fame or applause, but to honour the Lord. “It was just something that had meaning. A reminder that even when I’m playing cricket, it’s not about me. I’m here because the Lord wants me to be here.”
Despite a busy cricketing schedule, family, especially his wife and daughter, remain Marnus’s priority. “You can always make more money, but you can’t get the time back with your family,” he says. That perspective has helped him stay grounded amid the pressure of professional sport.
Marnus is also intentional about staying connected to Christian community. He’s part of a Bible study group and tunes in to sermons and church services while on tour. “Just staying connected in the small ways, that’s what’s important.”
Marnus is open about his beliefs with his teammates and has been since his teenage years. “People knew that from day one,” he says. “Hopefully I’m the same person now as I was then.”
Whether it’s on the world stage or at home with friends, Marnus brings the same steady approach. For him, faith isn’t just something on the side. It’s part of how he lives everyday.
Listen to Marnus’s full interview on Faith Life Sport below:
