Marnus Labuschagne - players.bio

Nauman shines as first Pakistan-Australia Test heads for a draw

Nauman Ali grabbing four wickets Monday as the tourists reached 449-7 on the fourth day of a rain-hit match in Rawalpindi. When umpires called off play with three overs still to be bowled, Mitchell Starc was on 12 and skipper Pat Cummins four -- with Australia just 27 behind Pakistan's first innings total of 476-4 declared. Australia are on their first tour to Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to visit over security fears.

Watch: Mohammad Rizwan Steps In To Help After Marnus Labuschagne Is Struck By Ball

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan gave Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne a gentle rub on his right arm after the latter was struck by a ball while batting on the third day of the opening Test between the two sides in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Labuschagne was facing a delivery from Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali when he failed to connect while trying to sweep it towards leg. The ball spun in a way that it hit Labuschagne's right forearm after pitching outside the leg stump. Rizwan, who was keeping behind the stumps, stepped in to help Labuschagne and gave the latter a gentle rub on his right forearm.

Players to watch in Pakistan-Australia Test series

Pakistan will start their first Test series at home against Australia in 24 years in Rawalpindi on Friday under heavy security with the tourists on unfamiliar turf. Here's a look at three players from each side to watch as the long-awaited and potentially fascinating three-Test battle unfolds. Started his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010 before developing into one of the most complete batters in international cricket, Steve Smith's average of 59.87 is unsurpassed by any active Test player and he has proved his adaptability by scoring 1,200 runs in 13 Tests on slow, turning sub-continent wickets. Australia will look to Smith -- who by his own lofty standards had a lean series against England with 244 runs at 30.50 and a top score of 93 -- to anchor their batting against a formidable Pakistan attack on pitches alien to the tourists. Likely to be the key to winning matches on the slow and turning pitches of Pakistan.

"Tremendous Thinker Of The Game": Marnus Labuschagne's High Praise For Ravichandran Ashwin

India's Ravichandran Ashwin is currently one of the best spinners in world cricket, especially in Test cricket. The veteran cricketer has been hailed by many elite batters and was also recently on the receiving end of plenty of praise from Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Labuschagne praised Ashwin's record and also stated that "you obviously have to lift your game" when batting against the off-spinner. Explaining why Ashwin's tactical sense is different from other spinners, Labuschagne said, "The reason Ashwin's record is so good is because he's a tremendous thinker of the game. So, he's always thinking about how he can get you out. About what you are doing. And so what he's doing to counter that?"

Watch: How Marnus Labuschagne Is Preparing To Bat On Spin-friendly Pitches

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne shared a video on Twitter where he is seen playing in his home backyard where he recreated a surface akin to spin-driendly pitches in the sub-continent. Labuschange will soon be on the flight to Pakistan, where Australia will be playing a Test series after more than two decades. The video shows a rubber mat with aluminum and metal sheets taped to it that is cut into pieces in order to replicate the cracks that appear on the subcontinent pitches as the game proceeds. "Originally I had bigger sheets on there," Labuschagne told reporters in Brisbane on Monday. Labuschagne also revealed his chat with Steve Smith and the latter's inputs that proved valuable for recreating such a pitch.

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Marnus Labuschagne Sport News

Nauman shines as first Pakistan-Australia Test heads for a draw

Watch: Mohammad Rizwan Steps In To Help After Marnus Labuschagne Is Struck By Ball

Players to watch in Pakistan-Australia Test series

"Tremendous Thinker Of The Game": Marnus Labuschagne's High Praise For Ravichandran Ashwin

Watch: How Marnus Labuschagne Is Preparing To Bat On Spin-friendly Pitches

Marnus Labuschagne is hoping to take his dominant form on Australian pitches to Pakistan

Cricket-Labuschagne bats on balcony with view to Pakistan tour

Labuschagne bats on balcony with view to Pakistan tour