Record for Labuschagne
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Manchester: Australia's Marnus Labuschagne in action on Day 1 of the 4th Test match between Australia and England at Old Trafford, in Manchester on Sep 4, 2019. (Photo: Twitter/@ICC) Manchester: Australia's Marnus Labuschagne in action on Day 1 of the 4th Test match between Australia and England at Old Trafford, in Manchester on Sep 4, 2019. (Photo: Twitter/@ICC)
Steve Smith has set some pretty lofty standards for the Australian batting line-up in recent years but Marnus Labuschagne’s exploits in the five home Tests this season now bear comparison, especially after he broke a 67-year-old scoring record on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, born in South Africa but raised from the age of 10 in Queensland, made his debut against Pakistan in October 2018 and impressed with four half centuries in last year’s Ashes series in England.
Since he first took guard against Pakistan again in Perth in November, though, he has enjoyed a purple patch of form that few other batsmen have rivalled.
After scoring 215 to drive Australia to 454 in the third Test against New Zealand on Saturday, Labuschagne has now scored a double century, two 150s, one century and two half centuries in his last seven innings.
The knock took him to 837 runs at an average of 199.57 for the home season, bettering the 834 Australian batting great Neil Harvey tallied in a five-match series against South Africa in 1952-53.
STANDARDS: Australia's Steve Smith has had a lofty. Picture: Andrew Cornaga/AP.
Labuschagne says of his achievement: “I haven’t really had a chance to stop and reflect on the summer that I have had.
“Looking at it, it has been a very special summer but the real privilege is playing in this team.”
Only Harvey, England’s Wally Hammond and the great Don Bradman have ever scored in excess of 800 runs over a five-Test Australian summer.
Bradman alone now stands above Labuschagne in the list of career averages for batsmen with at least 20 innings.
There is, of course, daylight between the 99.94 Bradman famously finished on and Labuschagne’s current 63.63. Smith is now relegated to third on the list on 62.84.
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Following Labuschagne’s heroics, spinner Nathan Lyon then took 5/68 as Australia dismissed New Zealand for 251 before finishing Day Three on 40/0 with a 243-run lead.