HUSSEY’S PRAISE FOR MR CRICKET 2.0

HE’S been dubbed the ‘new Mr Cricket’ or ‘Mr Cricket 2.0’. And the original Mr Cricket could not be more proud of new Australian star Marnus Labuschagne.

The South African-born Queenslander is a great student of the game – he lives and breathes it – which has aided his development as a player, just like Mike Hussey.

“He’s a great example for all the kids out there,” Hussey said. “He’s just having a golden run.

“I probably wouldn’t have picked it. He was in and out of the Queensland team there for a while. His first-class numbers were just OK.

“Something has obviously clicked. It seems like he’s spending a lot of time with Steve Smith, and watching him play and how he trains. It’s obviously inspired him.

“He seems like he has a genuine love for the game and love for batting. There’s some good ingredients there.”

Labuschagne has risen to fifth on the world batting rankings after smacking three tons in a row against Pakistan and then New Zealand.

Averaging 58 in 12 Tests, the 25year-old has cemented his spot at

No.3 in the Australian batting order.

“He’s got a very good technique, plays well off the front foot, back foot,” Hussey said. “He’s got his position now. He’s got clarity (and) he can relax and play his game.”

Terry Mallinder

- Number of times a One-day International has been played at the MCG on Boxing Day. It happened in 1989.

- Marnus Labuschagne’s world batting ranking after scoring three tons in his past three Tests.

- Years since the last time New

Zealand played a Boxing Day Test in Australia.

- Number of wickets Dennis Lillee claimed at the MCG – the most of any player. Shane Warne is next best with 56.

- Steve Smith’s batting average at the MCG from six Test