Marnus Labuschagne becomes the second fastest batter to reach 3000 Test runs

At the moment, Marnus Labuschagne is one of the world’s best batters in the Tests. He has put his name against one of the greats one more time as he becomes the second fastest to reach 3000 Test runs just behind Sir Don Bradman. 

Labuschagne says that he cannot watch the pink ball as well as the red ball, but his unstoppable march o begin the NRMA Insurance Test summer as he scored his third triple-figure score in as many innings. Recently, he scored a stunning knock of 163 runs in the Adelaide day-night Test match. 

After reaching the milestone of 150 runs against the West Indies bowling attack in the second Test match, the right-hander passed the 3,000-run mark in just his 51st innings. He is just behind the former Australian legend, Bradman who did it in 33 innings. Labuschagne has matched the record of the West Indies Everton Weekes who also got there in his 51st innings.

It’s very hard to then pick up balls to cut or pull: Marnus Labuschagne

The 28-year-old’s latest achievements are that how much faster he has gotten to the mark compared to other Australian greats who jumped out of the blocks like Neil Harvey (54 innings), Matthew Hayden (61 innings), Adam Gilchrist, Mike Hussey, and Steve Smith (63 innings).

“I just don’t pick the ball up as well or as early,” said Labuschagne, who was finally dismissed caught behind after his 305-ball stay.

“Sometimes people say ‘are you being real patient?’ – it’s just because when you’re not seeing the ball beautifully and you can’t see the seam and the rhythm and the swing.

“It’s very hard to then pick up balls to cut or pull. So you just narrow it down and go ‘right, I’ll just watch the stumps and play down here until you play more’ and you get the rhythm of the wicket and the bounce.”

If Labuschange bats again in this match, the Queenslander could well end up with the most runs by an Australian in a two-Test series. Only Mathew Hayden, who scored 501 runs against Zimbabwe in 2003-04, and David Warner who smashed 489 runs against Pakistan in 2019-20.