Marnus Labuschagne has gone from following Steve Smith’s footsteps to breaking out as one of the world’s best batsmen, capping off a summer to remember with a double ton in the ongoing third and final Test against New Zealand.
The quirky right-hander on second day’s play went past his previous best score of 185 before completing his maiden Test double century, which came off 346 balls.
By finishing with 215 off 363 balls, Labuschagne now has a greater Test average than fellow ‘run machine’ Smith (62.84).
Labuschagne’s current average is 63.63, although he’s playing just his 14th Test, while Smith is in his 73rd.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
https://twitter.com/SPNSportsIndia/status/1213352604278939648
✅ Going past Steve Smith's Test batting average
✅ Scoring his first Test double hundred
✅ Closing in on 500 runs in this seriesMarnus Labuschagne is having the time of his life!#AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/EgzUcdhDQr
— ICC (@ICC) January 4, 2020
HE'S GOT THE DOUBLE!
Amazing innings, Marnus Labuschagne! 👏#AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/ZnXyPKrdOx
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/dizzy259/status/1213311797584789504
Marnus Labuschagne may take all the plaudits for a fine double century but @juniorwaugh349 won the day for me on @FoxCricket 😂😂
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 4, 2020
Marnus Labuschagne joins England's Wally Hammond (905) and Australia pair Neil Harvey (834) and Don Bradman (810 & 806) as the only batters to score 800 runs in a five-Test summer on Australian soil #AUSvNZ
— Sam Ferris (@samuelfez) January 4, 2020
First career double ton ✅
First double ton of 2020 ✅Marnus Labuschagne having the time of his life! 👏 #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/wqmDfFZUTG
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 4, 2020
Marnus Labuschagne’s Test batting average has just gone past Steve Smith’s #AUSvNZ
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 3, 2020
Highest Test batting averages (min. 20 inns)
99.94 – Don Bradman
63.63 – Marnus Labuschagne
62.84 – Steve Smith #AUSvNZ— Sam Ferris (@samuelfez) January 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/AdishShetty41/status/1213304869118889984
1st 200 In
1990s – Graham Gooch
2000s – Justin Langer
2010s – Ricky Ponting
2020s – Marnus labuschagne*#AUSvsNZ pic.twitter.com/3P3goomNk8— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 4, 2020
Great moment for Marnus Labuschagne's parents!
They would be so proud of their son.#AUSvNZ #AUSvsNZ pic.twitter.com/xAijAcUgBs
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) January 4, 2020
