Will be great to play in India if opportunity comes: Marnus Labuschagne

Batting all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne had a dream run at home this summer even as his country was left burning badly in bushfire. The right-hander slammed 896 runs in just five Tests at an average of 112 against Pakistan and New Zealand with three big hundreds and one double ton. Although he lost the man of the series award in the Pakistan series to David Warner, he did not let it go against the Kiwis against who he also got the man of the match award in Sydney.

Labuschagne, who scored over 61 percent of his total Test runs this summer, attributed the phenomenal success with the bat to his “level of concentration”. His show put up an assuring challenge to the likes of Steve Smith, who made massive exploits against England in the Ashes last year, and Warner against Pakistan. Against New Zealand, Labuschagne made 549 runs in three matches.

Starting with the first Test against Pakistan in at The Gabba in Brisbane, Labuschagne’s last eight innings read 185, 162, 50, 143, 19, 63, 215 and 59.

Marnus Labuschagne eclipses legendary Neil Harvey’s 67-year-old record

The 25-year-old eclipsed in the process Australian batting legend Neil Harvey’s 67-year-old record in a five-Test summer. The former southpaw had slammed 834 runs in a five-game series against South Africa in five games.

“It’s been an amazing summer. We have been playing really well as a team and it is good to see everything come together. The way I hit the ball and the way the batting group has performed has been tremendous. It’s so special to share these moments with your family.

They are a part of the whole journey and to see them watch the hard work pay off feels great. It’s hard to put a finger on something, but just the level of concentration and probably not doing as many silly things was good,” Labuschagne said after being adjudged both the player of the match and series at the SCG.

Labuschagne, who was dropped on four by Todd Astle off his own bowling in Sydney, said it was nice to ride some luck. He also said that he would love to play in India if an opportunity came his way.

“It was nice to have some luck as well (on the lifeline Astle gave him). I chew a lot of gum, but it has been working, so why change. It will be great to play in India if I get the opportunity. It is nice to travel with this group and I am just taking it as it comes,” he added.