He has moved up to third in the ICC’s Test batting rankings, behind just Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. At the start of 2019, he was ranked 110th
Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch has backed Marcus Labuschagne’s to replicate the form that has made him an immediate mainstay in Australia's Test side as he prepares to make his white-ball bow for his country against India.
Australia will face India in three ODIs, beginning on January 14. Labuschagne will fight for a place in the tourists' middle order alongside Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey, Ashton Turner and Smith, while D'Arcy Short has also been added to the squad in place of the injured Sean Abbott.
Labuschagne, 25, has announced himself on the international stage in remarkable style since making his Australia debut during the Ashes, initially as a concussion replacement for Steve Smith.
Since then, he has passed 50 on 12 occasions in just 14 Tests, with four of those scores being converted into hundreds. His maiden Test double century came in Sydney against New Zealand.
He has moved up to third in the ICC’s Test batting rankings, behind just Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. At the start of 2019, he was ranked 110th.
“We know that he's not going to be overawed by the occasion,” Finch said. “He's come back into Test cricket after missing out at the start of the Ashes and he's been unbelievable, so hopefully he can continue that.”
He has shown similar form in Australia’s domestic white-ball competition, making scores of 87 and 135 – his first List A ton – in his last two innings.
“The form that he showed in the one-day games was outstanding domestically,” Finch added.
“He's averaging up around 40 there batting at three, batting at four for Queensland on what's been traditionally a little bit tougher batting conditions over the last couple of years in domestic cricket.
“Playing on some slower wickets that spin quite a bit, to be able to come in and do that role really well for Queensland is obviously what's got him a place in the side, as well as his current form. I don't see why it wouldn't translate.”
Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.