Mark Waugh Names Best Test Batsman In The World, Ignores Virat Kohli And Steve Smith

In the last few months, the world cricket has witnessed a youngster breaking all the records in the Test format to stun the fans and the experts of the game. Yes, it is none other than Marnus Labuschagne, who displayed high-quality cricket on the field to make things happen for him and Australia. Now, he gets a new admirer in the name of Mark Waugh, who rated him over Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.

Labuschagne smashed 896 runs in five Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand over the home summer. The irrepressible right-handed batsman finished with an average of 112 for the five matches after a double century, two 150s, one century and three half-centuries in eight innings. Marnus Labuschagne’s run tally was the best for an Australian in the 5-Test home summer.

Marnus Labuschagne is probably the number one batsman in the world – Mark Waugh

Showering praise on rising Australia top-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne, former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh labelled him as the number one batsman in Test cricket right now. Labsuchagne, who made his debut against Pakistan in 2018, broke a 67-year-old record in the recently-concluded series against New Zealand, which Australia won 3-0.

Labuschagne was ranked 110th at the beginning of last year but is now only behind India captain Virat Kohli and compatriot Steve Smith. Now that he has dominated Test cricket, Marnus Labuschagne aspires to become the batsman for all formats like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and his team-mate Steven Smith.

“He is probably the number one batsman in world cricket, albeit in the Test format, but I think he can carry that on into the white-ball format as well. I think he has got to bat in the top four You would imagine Finch and Warner would open, Steve Smith at three and Labuschagne at four. I think he is ideally suited at four because he can play spin well, he is a good sweeper of the ball,”  said Waugh.

”He is going to get tested out, obviously, by the spin of India, by the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, those sorts of guys. But a batsman in form going to India is exactly what you need. I think he will go really well,” Waugh was quoted as saying by Sydneymorningherald.com.au.

The first ODI between India and Australia will be played on January 14 at the Wankhede Stadium. The team led by Aaron Finch already arrived in India on Friday. Last time, they had a memorable tour when they outdid India with three wins in the 5-match ODI series.

Watch – Virat Kohli Imitates Harbhajan Singh’s Bowling Action