2019 Test cricket: A look at Marnus Labuschagne in numbers
What's the story
Test cricket has found a new hero in the form of Marnus Labuschagne. The Australian cricketer has been unstoppable in Tests this year and runs have flowed at will. Since coming on as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith in the second Test of the Ashes 2019, Labuschagne has dominated world cricket. Here we look at his numbers.
Labuschagne
Labuschagne scored his maiden fifty against Lanka in January 2019
Labuschagne has participated in 10 Test matches this year. He featured against India and Sri Lanka prior to the Ashes 2nd Test. The right-handed batsman scored his maiden Test fifty against Lanka in January 2019. After being dropped to the bench for the first Ashes Test, he came to bat in the second innings of the second Test at Lord's. Things changed drastically.
Ashes 2019
Ashes 2019 the change of fortunes for Labuschagne
Labuschagne scored 59 at Lord's and was retained for the third Test in the absence of Smith. He scored 74 and 80 in the third Test match to be Australia's main man. The player featured alongside Smith next and scored 67 and 11. In the fifth Test, he got scores of 48 and 14. In total, he amassed 353 runs at 50.42.
Conversion
Labuschagne converts his fleet of fifties into big hundreds
After a solid Ashes 2019 campaign, the number three batsman showed that he has more to his game than scoring fifties. He scored his maiden Test century (185 against Pakistan) in Brisbane last month. That was followed by a score of 162 in the Day-Night Test against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. He scored a third successive century (143) against New Zealand at Perth.
Fifty-plus scores
Labuschagne has the most fifty-plus scores in 2019
Labuschagne was brilliant against the Kiwis in the first Test and besides the century, he also scored a valiant 50 in the second innings. That was four successive fifty-plus scores in Test cricket for the promising cricketer. In 2019, Labuschagne has nine fifty-plus scores (3 tons and 6 fifties). That's the best tally amassed by a player in Tests this year.
Tests
Labuschagne only batsman to score 1,000-plus runs in Tests
The 25-year-old cricketer is the only batsman in 2019 to smash 1,000-plus runs in Tests. He has amassed a total of 1,022 runs at an average of 68.13. The next best is Steve Smith (873). Labuschagne has faced the most deliveries in Tests this year. He has scored the most fours in Tests as well (123). Interestingly, he has only hit one six.
Data
Labuschagne holds this record with Warner
Labuschagne and David Warner hold the record for the highest partnership runs for any wicket in 2019 (361). They achieved the feat against Pakistan in the D/N Test at Adelaide last month.
Labuschagne vs Smith
A look at Labuschagne vs Smith after 12 Tests
After 12 career Tests, Labuschagne has scored 1,103 runs at 58.05. He had made his debut against Pakistan in October, 2018. When you look at Smith, he made his debut in 2010. At this stage after 12 Tests, Smith had amassed 765 runs. He was averaging just 34.77. These are encouraging numbers for Labuschagne in this stage of his career.