"Hundreds are not good enough": Labuschagne on his only Test 100 in subcontinent


image-lcomwv4gLabuschagne has a Test hundred in Asia [Source: Associated Press]

Despite ending 2022, as ICC's Ranked No.1 Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne has criticised his only red-ball century in subcontinental conditions. Labuschagne scored 104 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July, which resulted in Pat Cummins-led Australia's only loss this calendar year. 

The right-handed batter explained the importance of scoring big in Asian conditions if Australia needs to go over the challenge, something that fellow batter and former Australian captain Steven Smith does to perfection.

Both Labuschagne and Smith will be crucial cogs in the Australian Test team's plans to win the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in India

As per Herald and The Age, Labuchagne praised Smith's technique of dealing with spin bowling. 

"We know we need to cash in and that’s where I reckon I missed the trick in Sri Lanka, in that first innings. I got 104 and then got out, which ended up costing us the game because obviously Smudge [Smith] was stranded at the other end on 140 odd.

That’s a great example of probably a young batter in those conditions where I’ve got a hundred and then obviously got out to one that spun, but it’s just the approach, that consistency that we’ve got to understand. If it’s a good wicket, hundreds are not good enough.”

The 28-year-old, who is yet to play a Test in India in seven Tests in Asia, has accumulated 400 runs with one hundred and one fifty.


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