How an Indian legend helped this star Australian batter ahead of the India series | Cricket News
Marnus Labuschagne’s resurgence in domestic cricket has put him on the brink of an Ashes recall, and one of the main influences behind his revival is none other than former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. The Australian star smashed a 197-ball 159 against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, scoring his fourth century in five matches. After a difficult two years in Tests, where he struggled with decision-making and scored at a slow strike rate of 44.25, Labuschagne looks rejuvenated and confident ahead of Australia’s Ashes campaign.
Lowest Test strike rate among first-order hitters since 2023 (
Minimum 25 rounds)
43.90 — Kraigg Brathwaite (WI)44.25 — Marnus Labuschagne (AUS)44.84 — Usman Khawaja (AUS)49.32 — Ravindra Jadeja (INDIANA)49.37 — Angelo Matthews (SL) Speaking to AAP earlier, Labuschagne credited Sehwag’s fearless batting style as inspiration for his return to form. “Sehwag’s method was to take the ball and play it. That’s a thing for me,” he said. “I want to be so clear and confident in my technique that all I think about is seeing the ball, hitting it and trusting my game.” Earlier this year, Labuschagne was ruled out of the test after struggling in pace-friendly conditions and showing hesitation in the enclosure. But a series of strong performances in domestic cricket, including rapid hundreds in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day competitions, restored his place in the competition. The batter also worked on correcting his vulnerability outside off stump, recognizing that bowlers had exploited this weakness in recent years. Now, with a more proactive approach inspired by Sehwag, Labuschagne scores freely, fills gaps and attacks loose deliveries. If he continues this momentum, Labuschagne should be a key cog in Australia’s Ashes defence, combining his natural talent with lessons learned from one of India’s most destructive openers.
