Pakistan v Australia Test series: World No.1 Test batter Marnus Labuschagne ready to make mark overseas
After 14 consecutive Tests in front of Aussie crowds, Marnus Labuschagne knows he needs to perform overseas to justify his standing as the world’s leading Test batter.
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It’s a measure of just how infrequently Australia has ventured from its own backyard in recent times that Marnus Labuschagne’s last 14 Test appearances have all been girt by sea.
He may be the No.1 ranked batter in Test cricket, but the most ambitious of players knows that to be genuinely respected you have to succeed at home and overseas.
His team mate/hero/fellow obsessive/friend, Steve Smith, goes at an average of 60 runs an innings in both settings and you get the impression that anything Steve can do Marnus wants to do, too.
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Marnus made his debut in the UAE against Pakistan and got a chance at a second life in England but has been a home boy - like his team mates - ever since.
Pakistan was a tour most Australian teams baulked at over the years, but any reservations about viruses or safety have been swept aside by the excitement at getting out of the country and challenging yourself in a foreign land.
Concerns about food, hotels, hostile crowds and other cultural quirks are, thankfully, a relic of another era when, admittedly, some of those elements were a challenge.
Labuschagne has been preparing for the tour with home made spin mats and focusing his cricket obsessed mind on the challenges ahead.
“I feel, although I haven’t had the experience, I’ve certainly given it a lot of thought and I’ve got experienced people around me to assist,” he said.
“For me it is just about accelerating that learning and being able to learn as quick as possible.
“I played in the UAE in 2018 and obviously played in that away series in England, apart from that I am really excited at the challenge of being able play away from home and get into the contest and try to show what I can do in these conditions.
“Everyone judges players careers on how they go away from home, so I better do well there.”
Labuschagne caught up with his batting mentor, Neil D’Costa, after the home summer as part of his preparation for the three Test series which begins in Rawalpindi on Friday.
“We just touched back on the basics of my batting, trying to just work on a few technical elements we felt like needed adjusting,” he said. “Worked on a few shots we felt like we needed to sharpen up on.
“We talked a bit on the tactical side, he’s worked with a lot of players in the sub-continent, coaching in India and understanding the tempo of the game.
“Just understanding you know what the game requires in certain situations, knowing when to lay low, knowing when to come out and press a little bit more and understanding the pace of the game.”
Labuschagne is seeking advice from all quarters, including videos of old series including his heroes Mohammed Yousuf, who he calls “a beautiful player”, Younis Khan, Inzamam Ul Haq and the like.
“I’ve got some great people here, Steve’s (Smith) is obviously has a lot of experience on the subcontinent - so speaking to him about certain things he is going to do and obviously the likes of Divva (assistant coach Michael Divenuto), Usi (Khawaja).
“But, understanding my own batting is obviously the key, understanding my strengths, how I am going to tackle playing in these conditions.
“You learn from the others but then you have to put it in to your own game.”
Labuschagne says it has really dawned on the players just how important this series is for Pakistan and the game
“The last couple of days, seeing the effort, seeing no one on the roads (they are cleared for the team buses), all the things they have done to look after us and make sure we are safe,” he said.
“That’s been a big realisation, to actually see that really shows the meaning that this tour has, not only for Pakistan in Australian cricket but for cricket in general.
“It’s been an enjoyable few days, it was nice to get out and train and I’ll be taking the opportunity to just try and hit as many balls as I can.”
The good news for cricket starved locals is that authorities have axed crowd limits and up to 18,000 people will be able to attend play at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Death threat shock: India accused of sabotaging historic tour
Pakistan’s interior minister lashed out at India on Tuesday, blaming his country’s enemies for attempting to sabotage the historic Australian cricket tour which begins Friday in Rawalpindi.
Authorities believe death threats sent to Ashton Agar’s partner originated in India and the high ranking politician indicated it was something similar which caused New Zealand to abandon its tour on the morning of the first game in September.
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad made a surprise visit to the media facilities at training to welcome the Australians and condemn the sabotage attempt.
“We welcome the Australian team, it is a great honour to our nation and the excellent arrangement arrangements by the Pakistan cricket board, Pakistan armed force, Pakistan police, Pakistan civil administration and Islamabad administration also.
“We are giving yu head of state security which we give to every visiting head of state and there are some people, especially the Indians, which are not happy with the happiness of the Pakistani people who are cricket lovers.
“They did the same during the New Zealand tour but this time they have failed.
“All Pakistani nation will welcome the Australian people because Pakistanis are cricket lovers and they are our guests and we will host them up to (April) 6 and if they want to stay longer they are welcome.”
Agar’s partner was told he and his children would be killed if he played in Pakistan — despite not having any children.
Measures were already in place to ensure such a thing would not derail the tour as it did the Kiwi visit last year.
New Zealand authorities cited security concerns when they left but did not elaborate. England then failed to travel to Pakistan for a subsequent white ball tour.
Australia’s players have been thoroughly briefed and reassured while agencies are on high alert, tracing any suggestion of a threat.
Steve Smith dismissed the incident ahead of practice.
“We’re aware of social media and the unfortunate events that can occur on platforms across social media,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of people working here with us. We trust our security and everyone involved and we’re feeling incredibly safe in Pakistan.
“We will be guided by our security and the people we trust around us.”
The security around the two teams, who are staying in the same hotel, is extraordinary. There are thousands of soldiers, police and other intelligence services assigned to the job, snipers are on the roof of the accommodation and all traffic is blocked from the route to the ground.
Pakistan understands how important this tour is if cricket is to recommence after two decades where terror has kept sides away.
Australia has not toured since 1998 but has been persuaded by the extraordinary level of security to return for three Tests and a white ball series.
“Australian people know that we love cricket and the Australian people know we love Australians and we are grateful, this is our national responsibility to give them full honor, respect and security,” the interior minister said.
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley and Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Todd Greenberg are with the team and were at the ground for training on Tuesday.
Cricket Australia is aware of a social media post, of which the nature and content has been investigated by the PCB, CA and combined Government security processes,” a Cricket Australia statement said.
“There are extensive security plans in place for this type of social media activity, which, in this case, is not considered a risk. No further comment will be made at this time.”
EARLIER: DEATH THREAT AGAINST AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER IN PAKISTAN
Cricket Australia has dismissed a death threat against one of the Australian cricketers in Pakistan.
Ashton Agar’s partner was sent the message after the team arrived in Islamabad ahead of the first Test by an Australian side in that country since 1998.
Authorities are not taking the threat seriously.
“Cricket Australia is aware of a social media post, of which the nature and content has been investigated by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), CA (Cricket Australia) and combined Government security agencies.
“There are extensive security plans in place for this type of social media activity, which, in this case, is not considered a risk.
“No further comment will be made at this time.”
The Australians arrival two days ago was front page news in the cricket loving country.
The Australian detailed the extraordinary security around the team which is the first to visit since 1998.
Thousands of military and police form a security cordon around the teams as they travel to the grounds and at their hotels.
New Zealand left Pakistan on the day of its first game last year after apparently receiving threats.
England then cancelled its series.
Teams have stayed away since terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus on the way to a game in Lahore in 2009.
Eight people died in that attack and Pakistan has been forced to play most of its home games in other countries since.
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