The third highest run-scorer in the 2021–2023 World Test Series cycle and Australia’s highest run-scorer in the same period is Marnus Labuschagne. The South African-born, Australian-raised youngster has turned the world upside down with these innovative leaves outside off stump, his hunger for runs, and the enthusiasm he carries around himself. In the 2021–2023 cycle, Labuschagne played 28 innings and scored 1562 runs at an average of 60.08, with six fifty-six and as many hundreds.
Digging out Marnus’s batting career—across the globe
The Australian young sensation has not been tested much in the muddy, dusty, and turning pitches of the Subcontinent. So far, Labuschagne has played 33 test matches, comprising 56 test innings, of which he has played 37 (66%) in Australian (home) conditions. Aside from Australia and England, Marnus has never averaged more than 50 in his career, despite a career average of 59.43. In terms of centuries, only one of the ten he has scored has come from outside of his home country, Sri Lanka. In Australia’s recent tour of Pakistan, Marnus was supposed to be one of the biggest threats to the Pakistan bowlers. However, the threat was summoned by the alien pitches of Pakistan, where the no. 1 ranked Test batter could only score 170 runs in five innings at an average of 34. So, by any stretch of the imagination, anyone wants to connect the dots, and Marnus specifically falls into the same league of home-track bullies that the Australian and English media have labelled many subcontinent legends.
Marnus Played In | Mat | Inns | 100s | 50s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R |
Australia | 22 | 37 | 9 | 9 | 215 | 2397 | 70.5 | 55.78 |
England and Wales | 4 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 353 | 50.43 | 51.01 |
Pakistan | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 90 | 170 | 34 | 61.59 |
Sri Lanka | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 149 | 49.67 | 63.68 |
United Arab Emirates | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 81 | 20.25 | 52.94 |
Overall (5) | 33 | 56 | 10 | 14 | 215 | 3150 | 59.43 | 55.73 |
Marnus versus India: A threat about which to be worried? or just another brick in the wall?
In the matches played in Australia, the right-hander was also sensational against India. When it comes to scoring against India, Labuschagne has already made his mark, scoring 464 runs at an average of 51.36 with one hundred. Analyzing Labuschagne's numbers against the Indian bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammad Siraj have been the two outliers for India. Marnus has never been dismissed in the approximately 27 overs that Jasprit Bumrah has bowled to him. Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami have bowled the least number of deliveries to Marnus (50 and 69 deliveries, respectively), and both have dismissed the Australian number three once. The most successful Indian bowlers against Marnus have been Ashwin and Siraj. Ashwin has dismissed him twice inside the 30 overs bowled to him, while on the other hand, Siraj has dismissed Labuschagne on two occasions in 29 overs.
Does Marnus succumbs to spinners?
The stylish right-hander averages 73.9 against spinners vs. a career average of 59.43 against all bowler types. Spinners have dismissed Marnus 16 (30%) of the 53 times he has been dismissed in his career. Though he has not faced a lot of deliveries against spinners compared to fast bowlers, this is where his waters will be tested on Indian pitches, where 80% of the overs will be bowled by India’s spin trio. While the series will test a lot of batters, it will be very interesting to see how the modern-day greats counter them and find a way to score runs on dry, turning pitches.