From the moment Marnus Labuschagne walks into the cricket field with the bat in his hand, there is a positive vibe.
No matter when he comes in to bat, one’s eyes get lit up knowing that the Australian cricketer could provide something special. 25-year-old Labuschagne has made things normal with the bat in terms of scoring runs aplenty.
It is indeed an obvious scenario to see him come and settle in well and then plunder the runs.
The Australian summer belonged to the number three batsman. He thrived in five successive Tests and didn’t fail in any of them.
Firstly, it was the two-Test series against Pakistan and then he stepped up against New Zealand in the recently-concluded three-match Test series. What the player offered was sheer resistance.
He looked pleasing to the eye and he turned out to be a new version of Steve Smith.
The promising batsman showed what it makes to be a solid Test batsman.
He dominated the show against the Kiwis by plundering 549 runs at an average of 91.50.
Notably, the player scored two hundreds and three fifties to stamp his mark.
He was awarded the man of the series for his brilliance. Interestingly, the Test series also included his maiden Test double hundred (215).
Prior to that, the player slammed two back-to-back tons against Pakistan at home.
He scored 185 and 162 against the Asian side. After five Tests at home in Australia’s summer, Labuschagne finished with 896 runs. He averaged an astounding 112 in this period and there was no stopping him.
The promising cricketer had earlier finished 2019 as the highest run-scorer in Test cricket.
He plundered 1,104 runs in 11 Tests at 64.94 with included three tons and seven fifties. A solid journey in the longest format has helped him earn a place in the ODI side. Next up is a three-match ODI series against India, starting January 14.
To top that, the player is now ranked third in the ICC Test Rankings for Batsmen.
Marnus Labuschagne was ranked 110th at the beginning of last year, however, now he is only behind Team India captain Virat Kohli and compatriot Steve Smith. The 25-year-old has 827 rating points at the moment.
Over the years, we have seen cricket’s top four batsman in the form of Smith, Kohli, Joe Root and Kane Williamson rule Test cricket at large.
These four have set the standards high with plenty of runs under their belt across venues. All four have done remarkably well and stand out from the rest when it comes to Test cricket. That’s why they are known as the ‘Fab Four’.
Labuschagne has produced substance that has perhaps followed the path of the ‘Fab Four’. In this article, we look at how the Aussie cricketer compares to the Fab Four in Tests.
A look at the Fab Four and their impact in Test cricket
The Fab Four in cricket made their foray into Test cricket in the last decade around a similar time frame. Williamson made his debut in 2010, Kohli and Root debuted in 2012 and Smith also entered the frame in 2010. They didn’t have the dream starts to their respective careers, but made an impression straightaway.
With time, these four went on to score emphatically and stamp their authority in the game. All four are right-handed batsmen and became the most pivotal forces for their sides. Their respective teams have always been dependent on them for the runs. Consistency, style, shot-making and composure are the right attributes that made them stand out.
In the 2010s, Root (7,359), Kohli (7,204) and Smith (7,164) finished in the top five as the highest run-scorers in the format. The three amassed 68 centuries between them to make a huge mark. Williamson wasn’t far behind. The Kiwi Test captain scored 6,379 runs in 78 Tests with 21 centuries under his belt.
The likes of Kohli and Williamson had averages over 50, whereas, Root managed 48.41. Smith was the best of these four with a strong return of 62.84. All four layer major roles in winning Test matches a plenty and standing out from the rest of the players.
Comparison between Labuschagne and Fab Four after 14 career Tests
Labuschagne has played a total of 14 Test so far in his career. He has scored 1,459 runs at an average of 63.43. He has scored four hundreds and eight fifties. Notably, he has the best Test average in the present day. He has an average better than Smith and these two are the only batsmen that boast of a 60-plus average in the format.
This is how the Fab Four in Test cricket did after 14 matches in their respective careers.
Steve Smith – Matches: 14, Runs: 843, Average: 33.72 Best: 138*, 100/50: 1/5
Virat Kohli – Matches: 14, Runs: 891, Average: 38.73, Best: 116, 100/50: 3/5
Joe Root – Matches: 14, Runs: 916, Average: 38.16, Best: 180, 100/50: 2/4
Kane Williamson – Matches: 14, Runs: 643, Average: 26.79, Best: 131, 100/50: 2/2
Labuschagne is way ahead of these four cricketers after 14 career Tests by a considerable margin. One can safely assume that he is going in the right direction and can go on to create a space for himself in Test cricket.
Can Labuschagne reach the heights of Fab Four in Test cricket?
The statistics show that Labuschagne is way ahead of the Fab Four after 14 career Test matches so far. However, the journey has just begun for the Aussie batsman. In order to reach the heights these four gentlemen managed over time, the former has to continue in the same vein in the near future.
The likes of Kohli, Smith, Root and Williamson are the faces of Test cricket and have been highly important for their respective sides. Not just as batsmen, but also as leaders. Someone like a Labuschagne can definitely fit in this bracket. With hard work, determination and the ability to be special, he can go places. We might soon have a Fab Five with him being in the picture.
It is a long road ahead, but Labuschagne has done all the right things so far and can continue to foray ahead.
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”Who is Marnus Labuschagne?” answer-0=”Marnus Labuschagne is a South African-born Australian international cricketer who plays Test matches for the Australian national team and domestic cricket for the Queensland cricket team. He has played county cricket for Glamorgan and in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h2″ question-1=”What’s the Marnus Labuschagne Ranking?” answer-1=”Labuschagne was ranked 110th at the beginning of last year but is now only behind India captain Virat Kohli and compatriot Steve Smith. There are now three Australia batsmen in the top five with opener David Warner gaining two slots after scoring 297 runs in the series.” image-1=”” count=”2″ html=”true” css_class=””]
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