HE’S THE BEST MARN Tendulkar’s stunning Labuschagne admission

INDIAN icon Sachin Tendulkar has paid Marnus Labuschagne (right) the ultimate compliment, likening the inform Australian’s skill to his own composed batsmanship.

Tendulkar, having landed in Australia for Sunday’s bushfire relief game in Melbourne, has now delivered perhaps the most eye-catching acclaim yet.

“His footwork was incredible, so he would be the one I would say,” Tendulkar replied at the SCG yesterday, when asked whether any current player reminded him of himself.

Labuschagne is third on the world rankings behind Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.

There has been a chorus of praise for Labuschagne, with Kohli suggesting last month the 25-year-old has the mindset to be “top player in the world for a while”.

India’s greatest-ever cricketer, who scored 51 tons and some 15,921 runs in a decorated Test career, was stunned by Labuschagne’s performance on Ashes debut as a concussion substitute at Lord’s and his since charted the righthander’s rapid rise with interest.

“I saw Marnus getting hit (on the helmet by) the second ball he faced from Jofra Archer and post that, the 15 minutes he batted I said ‘ this player looks special, there is something about him’.

“His footwork was precise and footwork is not physical, it’s mental. If you’re not thinking positively in your mind then your feet don’t move. So that clearly indicated to me that this guy is mentally strong.”

Don Bradman famously said he saw a bit of himself in Tendulkar, who captured the admiration of Australian players and fans by scoring an unbeaten Test century as an 18year-old at the SCG in 1992.

Tendulkar made the point he is not a big fan of comparisons but answered honestly when asked whether he would pick Kohli or Smith first in an XI.

“Let an Indian pick an Indian guy,” Tendulkar smiled.

“I’ll leave Smith to be in the other side. Virat has been my friend.

“They’re entertaining the entire cricketing world and it’s a joy to watch both.”

Tendulkar described Smith as a “special player”.

“He’s proven that on a consistent basis,” he said.

“His mindset – he’s so organised. The technique is not something you see commonly, it’s different, but he knows how to adjust.”

Tendulkar believed the addition of a Test championship, in which India and Australia are currently on track to meet in a Lord’s final next year, was a “fantastic initiative” but harboured some concerns about day-night Tests.

“I’m not too sure how the dew factor is going to play its part (in India), it could be a spoilsport,” he said.