Labuschagne is special: Sachin

Sydney, Feb. Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Friday picked Australian Marnus Labuschagne as the player who most reminds him of himself, calling the fastrising batsman a special talent with impeccable footwork.

Here to coach a side at Sunday’s charity fundraiser for the devastating bushfires in Australia, Tendulkar was asked to name the player who he thinks comes closest to resembling him at his prime. “I happened to be watching the second Test match at Lord’s between England and Australia. When Steve Smith got injured, I saw 7:

Labuschagne’s second innings,” Tendulkar responded.

“I was sitting with my father-in-law. I saw Marnus get hit off the second ball from Jofra Archer and, post that, the 15 minutes he batted, I said, ‘This player looks special’,” he recalled.

“There is something about him. His footwork was precise. Footwork is not physical, it’s mental. If you’re not thinking positively in your mind, then your feet don’t move,” he added.

The 25-year-old Labuschagne became Test cricket’s leading scorer last year with 1,104 runs. He broke into the scene after coming in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith during the Ashes last August. Grabbing his chance with both hands, Labuschagne made four consecutive half-centuries to notch up with 353 runs at 50.42 in the Ashes.

Tendulkar said Labuschagne’s fine footwork is also a sign that he is a mentally strong player. “...because if you’re not, your feet will not move. His footwork was incredible,” he said.

Labuschagne has amassed 896 runs this Test summer, notching up four centuries. Tendulkar, however, refused to be drawn into the debate on who among Virat Kohli and Steve Smith should be considered the better.

“I don’t like getting into comparisons. People have tried comparing me to a number of guys and I’ve said, ‘Just leave us alone’,” Tendulkar told eager reporters.

‘No-brainer in joining Bushfire charity game’ It’s a country which almost gave him a new accent and this “special feeling” for Australia was one of the reasons why Sachin Tendulkar didn’t think twice before joining the Bushfire Bash charity game on receiving a call from his former on-field foe Brett Lee.

Tendulkar, who will coach the Ricky Ponting XI during Sunday’s charity fundraiser match at the Junction Oval here, said the moment he got a call from Lee, it was “no-brainer” that he wanted to join the project.

“I received a message from Brett Lee. Brett said that Kevin (Roberts, Cricket Australia’s chief executive) would like to be in touch with you. It was a no-brainer.” —