Labuschagne

Australia’s batsman Marnus Labuschagne. Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP

South Africa-born Labuschagne now the No 1 batsman in Test cricket

Three years on from making his debut, Marnus Labuschagne has climbed to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.

Labuschagne

Australia’s batsman Marnus Labuschagne. Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP

Labuschagne was born in Klerksdorp, but moved to Australia when he was just 10-year-old after his family emigrated from South Africa.

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The middle-order batsman has climbed to the top of the ICC Test Player Rankings for batters for the very first time after sensational performances in the two matches of the Ashes so far.

With career-best 912 rating points, he goes past Joe Root (897) who drops to the second spot. 

Ranked fourth before the series, Labuschagne rose two spots to No 2 after scoring 74 in Australia’s win in the Brisbane Test. In the second Test at Adelaide, he scored a hundred and fifty (103 and 51) as Australia routed England by 275 runs to go 2-0 up in the Ashes.

Labuschagne already boasts six Test centuries

The No 1 ranking is due reward for a man boasting six centuries and 12 fifties across his first 20 Tests, garnering him an average of 62.14. Among batters to have played at least 20 Test innings, only the incomparable Don Bradman (99.94) averaged more.

See all the rankings here

Reminder of latest Ashes result:

Australia ground down a battling England to win the second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Monday to go 2-0 up in the series, leaving the visitors’ dreams of winning back the hallowed urn in tatters.

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England resumed day five of the pink ball Test in deep trouble at 82 for four chasing a massive 468 to win, needing a miracle to salvage a draw. 

They gamely hung on into the final session, fighting a desperate rearguard action until ultimately crumbling to be all out for 192, crashing to a 275-run defeat.

Jhye Richardson was the pick of the attack with 5-42.