Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh doesn’t agree with former legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s thoughts on Marnus Labuschagne. When Tendulkar was asked recently which batsman reminds him of himself, he had said Marnus Labuschagne. However, Waugh believes Tendulkar is trying to put the rookie Australian batsman off.
Meanwhile, Steve Waugh showered praise on Marnus Labuschange. The right-hander had a brilliant start to his Test career as he was the highest run-getter in the Test fold in 2019. Labuschagne scored more than 1100 runs and ticked the right boxes in his batting. This helped him jump many places in the ICC Test rankings.
Labuschange is a player to watch out for.
Furthermore, Labuschagne has shown the right temperament and he is often compared with Steven Smith. Labuschagne is a gutsy player and gives his 120% on the field.
“Maybe he (Tendulkar) wants to put him (Labuschagne) off. I don’t think so,” Waugh was quoted as saying by PTI. “In my opinion, he has an appetite for runs. When he came to the side 12 months ago, he was 26th but now he is fourth-ranked Test player batsmen in the world, so it’s an incredible transformation.”
On the other hand, Sachin Tendulkar had heaped praise on Marnus Labuschagne. When the right-hander replaced Steven Smith as the first concussion substitute in the Ashes, Tendulkar saw the great technique in the greenhorn Australian batter.
“I happened to be watching the second Test match at Lord’s between England and Australia. When Steve Smith got injured, I saw Labuschagne’s second innings,” Tendulkar responded.
“I was sitting with my father-in-law. I saw Marnus get hit off the second ball from Jofra Archer and, post that, the 15 minutes he batted, I said, ‘This player looks special’,” he recalled.
“There is something about him. His footwork was precise. Footwork is not physical, it’s mental. If you’re not thinking positively in your mind, then your feet don’t move,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne was also quick to respond to the praise he got from the big man. Labuschagne was delighted after getting the big compliments from Sachin Tendulkar.
Marnus Labuschagne told cricket.com.au: “It was pretty amazing, it’s one that definitely when I saw it I was quick to read it and it really hit me. Amazing words from someone that caliber. I was very grateful for his words and just stoked really.”
Australia will next tour to South Africa for three T20Is and as many ODIs.