Marnus Labuschagne has acknowledged the supremacy of Indian captain Virat Kohli in white-ball formats but didn’t give him the same position in Test cricket. The Aussies cricketer has labelled his teammate Steve Smith as the best Test cricketer.
Steve Smith and Virat Kohli are always behind each other for the No. 1 Test position in Test cricket. The Indian skipper retained the no.1 position for a long time before Steve Smith made the comeback. The Aussie player was out of the international cricket for one year after being accused as the architect behind the sandpaper gate scandal.
Currently, Steve Smith is the no.1 Test batsman in ICC ranking with 911 points while Kohli is behind him with 886 points.
Marnus Labuschagne picks Steve Smith over Virat Kohli:
Marnus Labuschagne believes that Steve Smith is best in the longest format because of his technique. He also gave the reason why he prefers him over Virat Kohli. The middle-order batsman said that Smith has found ways to score runs in different conditions which is why he tops the chart.
“I think Steve (Smith) in Test cricket has just shown in any condition, he can find away. I think that’s what you know really makes him the best, number one Test player in the world,” Labuschagne was quoted as saying by India Today.
“He has found a way in India, he has found a way to score in England, he is obviously very consistent in Australia, so it seems that it doesn’t matter where are you playing and in what conditions, he is finding a way. Now, Virat has probably done a similar thing. I will probably go with Steve in Test cricket.”
Virat Kohli is white ball specialist: Marnus Labuschagne
The Aussie player gives Virat Kohli no.1 position in shorter formats. He admires the way Kohli finishes off the innings and chases mammoth targets. Labuschagne said that he has learned a lot from the Indian captain.
“Virat’s white-ball cricket is phenomenal. The way he finishes innings, the way he finishes matches off, the way he chases. I think for me personally, I have learned a lot from him,” he added.
Marnus Labuschagne gained fame in international cricket after being admitted as Steve Smith’s concussion substitute in Ashes 2019 series. He went on to score heavily in that series and continued his impressive batting against Pakistan in the home Test series.