Soon after the Sri Lanka series, India will face Australia at home for their upcoming three-match ODI series.
Soon after the Sri Lanka series, India will face Australia at home for their upcoming three-match ODI series.
While India have been a force to reckon with at home, Australia are one of the toughest teams to fight against.
Talking ahead of the series, Australia’s newest batting star Marnus Labuschagne said he is basking in the glory of a memorable season but is aware of the tough assignment that lies ahead.
“Whenever you play India, it’s a tough series because they’re a very tough opposition,” Labuschagne told cricket.com.au. “They’ve got great batters and bowlers, so it’s going to be a challenge. But as a player, you always want to test yourself against the best opposition in the toughest conditions, and there’s nothing tougher than India in India.”
The tour which begins on 14 January won’t be the 25-year-old’s first tour of India. He has been here before with an Australia A side in 2018.
The batsman said the Sydney Test against New Zealand was a good preparation for their next overseas assignment. “It’s probably good preparation coming from (SCG) going to India that’s probably the closest we have in Australia to spinning conditions. But with the format change, and the wickets will be different,” he said.
Labuschagne is yet to make his ODI debut and he said he is banking on drawing from the experience of his senior teammates.
"I’ve got a lot of experience to lean on with guys who have played five, six, seven years of IPL and Test tours over there for Australia, so there’s a lot to learn.”
The Aussie is undergoing a dream run in Test cricket drawing comparisions with compatriot Steve Smith and India captain Virat Kohli.
Labuschagne scored 896 runs at a surreal average of 112 that included four centuries and three fifties.
On comparisons with the top batsmen of this generation, he said, “For people to speak like that is amazing, but there’s a lot more work to be done before anything like that can be talked about. Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith – those guys have been doing it for five, six, seven years. To have one good summer doesn’t make you a great player. So for me it’s about trying to be consistent and trying to get Australia to win games.”
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