Crafty Marnus home training for Pakistan

Renowned for doing things differently, run-machine Marnus Labuschagne has revealed his quirky special home-training methods to counter spin on the sub-continent.

Ahead of next month's historic tour of Pakistan, the world's No.1 Test batter posted a video to Twitter on Thursday showcasing his preparation for combating the turning ball.

The 27-year-old explained how batting on his patio using a rubber mat smattered with sheets of taped-down aluminium and metal as the pitch, is helping sharpen his skills for the challenge ahead.

"In the sub-continent one of the big factors that everyone sees is the ball spinning big and then also sliding on big," said Labuschagne, who boasts a Test average of 56.92 after 23 matches.

"You always see the replays of all the straight balls getting wickets, but people don't watch the balls in between that are spinning big.

"The idea is the ball will skid on if it hits the metal fabric or the tape side. And then if it hits in between in the rubber, it's going to spin.

"From a batter's perspective, I'm trying to set up here and work on how I'm going to play in these conditions - play for the inside for the slide, picking up the length, looking for balls to score off."

Australia will rely on the No.3 batter to continue to score heavily when they face Pakistan in a three-Test series starting on March 4.

The tour, which will also include a three-game ODI series and a lone T20, will mark Australia's first trip to Pakistan since 1998.

Renowned for his insatiable cricketing appetite, Labuschagne has previously spoken of playing intense garage games with his mates, also training there during lockdown in 2020.

He was Australia's second-highest run-getter (335 at 41.87) in the recent 4-0 Ashes triumph,