"His skill is undeniable" - Marnus Labuschagne on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has praised ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the upcoming marquee five-match Test series against India Down Under. Labuschagne said he is always excited to challenge himself against the best bowlers in the longest format.
India and Australia will meet in five Tests with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line. With India winning the last two series in Australia, the Aussies are keen to regain the trophy, having last held it after the 2014-15 leg.
With Bumrah troubling Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, Labuschagne said the pacer's skill is undeniable. He told The Hindustan Times:
"Jasprit is a sensational bowler. His skill is undeniable and it's always a great challenge to come up against some of the best players in our game, whether it's Jasprit or any other great bowler. That's what you want as a batsman. To challenge your skills and find ways to win the contest. whether it's Jasprit or any other bowler."
Labuschagne was the highest run-getter from either side from the 2020-21 leg, amassing 426 runs in four Tests, averaging 53.25. However, the 30-year-old's efforts went in vain as India pulled off a heist in the final Test, pulling off a 329-run chase to win the series 2-1.
"It's up to us to have the plans and execution" - Marnus Labuschagne on Rishabh Pant
With wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant playing an equally pivotal role in India's last two series wins in Australia, Marnus Labuschagne acknowledged that the southpaw's ability to snatch the momentum is astonishing.
The Aussie batter said in the same interaction:
"Rishabh has a great ability to counterattack and take the game on, which we've seen him do all around the world. His ability when India is under pressure to come in and turn the momentum is undeniable so it's up to us to have the plans and execution to stop him from doing that in this series."
The first of the five Tests between Australia and India begins on November 22 in Perth.