Best Test XI of 2019

3. Marnus Labuschagne

At the start of the year, when Marnus Labuschagne was called up to the Australian set-up for the New Year Test against India, no one could have fathomed that by the end of the year, the South African-born International would go on to become the heartbeat of Australian batting unit. And, everyone had good enough reasons to be apprehensive about the prospect of Labuschagne emerging as the No.3 contender. 

His Sheffield Shield average hovered into the mid-30s; a far cry from the cricketers of the past who would come into the Australian set-up boasting of averages in excess of 50. After a lean outing in the first Test against India, when the entire world was hooked to the Cricket World Cup, Labuschagne was quietly churning out runs for Glamorgan in the County Championship, racking up 1114 runs in 18 innings at an average of 65.52 with five hundred and as many half-centuries.

Labuschagne is the only batsman to rack up 1000+ runs in 2019. In 10 matches, the right-hander has amassed 1085 runs at an average of 67.81 with seven half-centuries and three-hundreds, and he still has one Test inning to go to further enhance his lead at the top.

Best innings- 59 vs England, Lord’s

Such was his preparation leading into the Ashes, that no wonder, Labuschagne was more than ready for Test cricket when the opportunity finally arrived in albeit unexpected circumstances.

Coming into bat as a concussion substitute for Steven Smith, Labuschagnes’ baptism with fire saw him rack up a fighting half-century in the fourth innings at Lord’s; one that not only helped Australia save the second Test but also pave way for the right-hander to accumulate scores of 74,67,11,48 and 14 in his first Ashes series. And, if there were any doubts as to whether he can amass handsome hundreds, the right-hander shrugged them off with three back-to-back hundreds [195,162 and 110 not-out] in the home summer against Pakistan and New Zealand.