Marnus Labuschagne, Oz's best batsman

[Pies4shaw]

He did it in 23 fewer days than Bradman, should anyone care.

[Pies4shaw]

But, of course, Marnus is a long way off heading the list of fastest to 7,000 Test runs. That list is, of course, headed by by SPD BradSmith, ahead of Hammond, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Sobers, Sangakkara, Kohli, Yousuf, Gavaskar and Richards. BradSmith was also fastest to 8,000 Test runs. The full "1,000s" list to 10,000 is:

1,000 Bradman
2,000 Bradman
3,000 Bradman
4,000 Bradman
5,000 Bradman
6,000 Bradman
7,000 BradSmith
8,000 BradSmith
9,000 Sangakkara
10,000 Lara, Tendularr and Sangakkara - all tied on 195 innings.

BradSmith needs a further 457 runs in 10 innings to beat Sangakkara to 9,000. He is averaging 78.4 so far this season.

Here's a reminder of BradSmith's all-time greatness: https://www.cricket.com.au/news/steve-smith-fastest-man-8000-test-runs-150-innings-sangakkara-tendulkar-sobers-dravid/2022-03-24

As that article notes, BradSmith is, of course, the only player to reach 8,000 Test runs with an average of 60 or more.

BradSmith was also 3rd fastest all-time to 6,000 Test runs, behind only Bradman and Sobers and, consequently, the fatest to that mark since 1968.

[Donny]

Batting beautifully, today.

[K]

Food and faith:

"Not just the world’s best Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne is also the luckiest...
...

The first episode sees Labuschagne proudly demonstrating a well-practiced routine that sees him swiftly remove a steaming hot ham-and-cheese sandwich and put it straight into a refrigerator, to be enjoyed once it has cooled after his net session.

"Not many people do this, but I like a toastie that's actually cold," he tells the camera from a kitchen in the Gabba changerooms, adding that he likes the cheese to "harden up" in the fridge.
...

The eagle [sticker on his bat] is a reminder for Labuschagne of a favourite bible passage, Isaiah 40:31: "For those who hope in the Lord, He shall renew their strength. They shall soar on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not be faint."

Even more than cricket, Christianity is a major part of who Labuschagne is. He met his wife, Rebekah, at church and his mother writes bible verses on the soles of his cricket shoes.
...

Having previously admitted it was a "challenging" aspect of his identity to explain to Queensland teammates when he started his domestic career, Labuschagne's beliefs now raise few eyebrows. Joe Burns even led a team prayer before his BBL debut with the Brisbane Heat."

(cricket.com.au)

[Donny]

[K]

I don't think they are forced to join in, so it shouldn't bother them.

When the beers come out in the dressing room, no one ever cares about it alienating the non-drinkers.

[Pies4shaw]

[Pies4shaw]

Back on the subject of "the best batsman in the World", the real litmus test of a Test batsman has always been how they perform away from their home conditions. Bradman was a legend because he thrashed England home and away (2,674 runs at 102.84 away and 4.322 at 98.22 home). We can only speculate about what he might have done elsewhere because he only played Tests in those 2 countries. So, it might have been that he would have been a potato of Ponting proportions in India, or he might have been the best Australian batsman of all-time, there (that mantle is, of course, presently SPD Bradsmith's - the only Australian batsman to average 60 or better in India and, indeed, one of only 3 to average at least 50 there, the other 2 being Hayden and Martyn).

It is interesting to observe that there are only 3 Australian batsmen who have reached at least 3,000 runs outside Australia at an average of 50 or better, namely Border (5,431 at 56.57), Steve Waugh (5,083 at 55.85) and SPD Bradsmith (3,986 at 60.39).

None of the other "modern day greats" got near those achievements outside Australia. Thus, Greg Chappell made 2,595 at 52.95 and Adam Gilchrist 2,512 at 50.24. But other "great" Australian batsmen couldn't manage to make any significant number of runs away from home at an average over 50. Thus, Ponting made 5,360 runs outside Australia - but at the modest average of 45.81, which average sees him in the same bunch of "also-rans" as, eg, Katich.

By that genuine measure, Marnus has a long, long way to go to be considered a "great". Away from Australia, he has made just 672 runs at 44.8. To put that in context, batting away, Chris Rogers made 1,028 at 44.69 and Rick McCosker made 867 at 54.18.

[K]

[K]

[K]

Sounds like Oz's best batsman, Marny, is the only batter who's been doin' well in the nets. (There've been interviews with a net bowler and reports from journos like Wu.) No surprise.

The rest have been atrocious in the nets. Including Head. Guys like Mark Taylor have said Head must play (and now he is), but Taylor doesn't see what happens in the nets. Wu reported that Head was bowled twice by Agar. And Agar is not even in Oz's top three spinners at the moment.

[K]

"The world’s top-ranked batter looks to have a big score in him but cannot convert his starts into substantial agenda-setting innings against India’s high-class spinners. He can at least draw comfort that it is taking excellent bowling to get him out. So much is riding on his blade. What’s happened to his bowling?"

(Wu, The Age)

[K]

[Pies4shaw]

He's starting to look like a raft of Australian batsmen who have failed on the Subcontinent before him. His average in Australia is now 70.5 - but his average in India is 29.75 and his average in Pakistan is 34.

It's more than just his average playing tricks, by the way. He has played 22 Tests in Australia and 13 overseas. He has 9 Test centuries and 9 50s in Australia and just 1 century and 5 50s away from home. 4 of those 5 away 50s came in 4 Tests in England, so he has actually played 9 Tests outside Australia and England for just 2 scores of 50 or better. Over his career, so far, he reaches 50 better than every second innings in Australia (18 in 34 completed innings). Outside Australia, he's reached 50 just 6 times in 23 completed innings. Thus, at the moment, his Test batting presence outside Australia is about half as good as it is in Australia.

By comparison, the one truly great player of the present era (who I won't name, since it seems to have a triggering effect on some people) has 30 centuries (16 from 48 home Tests and 14 from 46 away Tests) and 37 50s (17 in Australia and 20 away).

Hopefully, the imbalance is just a blip as Marnus adjusts to different conditions, otherwise Australia is going to lose a lost of Tests away from home while he has a spot in the Team. No shame in that - plenty of otherwise fine players have hit the same cricketing iceberg.

[K]

Oz's best batsman, Marnus, miked up in the nets:

https://www.cricket.com.au/video/marnus-labuschagne-mic-up-australia-net-session-spin-bowling-delhi-india-test-series/2023-02-28