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Marnus Labuschagne wants to emulate Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson

Written by Sumit Seth

Marnus Labuschagne has been a revelation for Australia in Test cricket. Ever since becoming Test cricket’s first-ever concussion substitute by replacing Steve Smith during the Ashes last year, he has been one of the consistent performers for the Baggy Greens with the willow. Labuschagne enjoyed a terrific 2019 scoring runs for fun in the home season.

Labuschagne, who is expected to play a key role for the visitors in the batting line-up, said he aspires to become a master of all formats like Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. He was the highest run-getter in Tests in 2019 amassing a staggering 1104 runs in 11 matches at an average of 64.94 including three centuries and seven fifties. However, the right-hander is now looking to attain the same consistency in the limited-overs format.

“You look at the guys I look up to and aspire to – Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root. They’ve been doing it for a very long time, five, six years they’ve been consistent, not just in one format, but two or more formats,” Marnus Labuschagne told ESPNcricinfo.

“So for me personally there’s a lot to learn and a lot to grow because I’ve had some success this summer but the real challenge for me is to be more consistent going on and being able to keep putting continued performances on the board,” he added.

“If I can continue to do that, then that’s obviously going to be the challenge for me, and getting an opportunity in this one-day series is an opportunity for me to show a slightly different part of my game that we haven’t seen this summer, but that’s a really exciting challenge too,” he said.

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Sumit Seth