HIGHLIGHTS:
Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne has picked teammate Steve Smith ahead of Virat Kohli in the Test format but accepted that the Indian skipper’s records in the white ball cricket is phenomenal.
(Photo: Google, Left- Virat Kohli and Right- Steve Smith)
Marnus Labuschagne has evolved as the next big thing in international cricket. He had a successful year 2019 where he scored 896 runs with a double century, two 150 plus scores, a hundred and three half centuries in just eight innings.
Labuschagne has been seen having a great bond with Steve Smith both on and off the pitch. Both bats very well together and spends a lot of time together off the field. In a recent interview with India Today, Labuschagne picked Steve Smith over Virat Kohli in the longest format of the game.
(Photo: Google, Left- Labuschagne and Right- Smith)
In the longest format, Smith and Virat have been at the top for a while now. Labuschagne feels Smith is slight ahead of Virat because of his ability to perform consistently in different conditions.
"I think Steve in Test cricket has just shown in any condition, he can find away. I think that's what you know really makes him the best, number one Test player in the world," Labuschagne says to India Today.
"He has found a way in India, he has found a way to score in England, he is obviously very consistent in Australia, so it seems that it doesn't matter where are he is playing and in what conditions, he is finding a way. Now, Virat has probably done a similar thing. I will probably go with Steve in Test cricket."
The Queensland batter further hailed Kohli’s abilities in white ball cricket.
"Virat's white-ball cricket is phenomenal. The way he finishes innings, the way he finishes matches off, the way he chases. I think for me personally, I have learned a lot from him," he said.
Labuschagne is part of Australia's 26-member preliminary squad for their possible limited-overs series against England. The final squad will be picked after the tour is confirmed by both the boards.
Marnus Labuschagne aims to continue his good run with the bat and follow stars like Virat, Smith and David Warner.
(Photo: Google, Marnus Labuschagne)
“As a cricketer, you go through a period and you have done really well and I know the teams are going to be even more prepared then they were before, they will come harder at me. For me, it’s about not putting one performance together but to be as consistent as I can”.
The right-handed batsman said that his current goal is to follow the example created by Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and David Warner and try to be successful in international cricket.
“You know there are so many examples, there is Virat, Steve Smith, David Warner, these guys are putting seasons back to back together for the last ten years. So there are some good people leading the way there, my aim is to try and follow that,” he added.
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