What's new

Tests: Marnus Labuschagne vs Babar Azam

Babar_Azam_fan

Tape Ball Star
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Runs
874
Post of the Week
1
Both are of same age.

Marnus is averaging in 60s

Although Babar is averaging in 40s, it looks like he has now cracked the way to score in tests

Last 4 innings:
Marnus has 3 100s and a 50

Babar has 2 100s and a 97

Let’s see what future holds for both of these youngsters.
 
If we're being honest here, he's made most of his runs at home. All three of his centuries have been scored at home. He did well in England no doubt but still didn't score a century there. He did alright in the UAE but nothing too exceptional.

He's not really faced that many challenges as of yet.

He was averaging around 40ish before the series against Pakistan
 
Don't see Marnus dominating all 3 formats in the same way as Babar, although he might remain ahead in Tests. Could be a situation similar to Kohli and Smith
 
Don't see Marnus dominating all 3 formats in the same way as Babar, although he might remain ahead in Tests. Could be a situation similar to Kohli and Smith

So we’ve future Babar (ala Kohli) vs Marnus (ala Smith) is it? Lol
 
Only time will tell. For now, we can only watch them and enjoy.
 
The issue with one dimensional English/Aussie batsmen..they need one poor Ashes series and their career’s are pretty much over. That too at the age of 32-33

Babar will play till he is 40 knowing Pakistani traditions
 
At the moment, Marnus is ahead in Tests, even if he has scored most of his runs at home. Babar started slowly in Tests, but he is catching up at a rapid rate.

All formats combined, there is no comparison as Marnus doesn't plays LOIs as of now.
 
How’s Babar ahead in tests?

Can you explain?

Bobby's on a run since the start of 2018. Home and away in Eng SA and Aus, played against the likes of philander steyn rabada starc Cummins Hazelwood Anderson broad Woakes southee Boult.

Marnus has just gone crazy in the last 5 matches, mostly at home. ( I would put more weight on those 50s in England than any of his runs in the last 3 tests, as Pak bowling was off and even NZ lost a bowler)

Why what do you think?
 
How’s Babar ahead in tests?

Can you explain?

I am so sorry man, I meant Labu is slightly ahead in tests. Typed wrongly in a rush.

BTW considering how small the sample size is and Babar is just entering peak, I won't be surprised if Babar gets ahead of him in near future. Purely in terms of aesthetics though, Babar over Labu any day.
 
Too early to judge Labu, he has just succeeded in home and in bit in Eng. Let him travel and score runs in Ind, Pak/UAE, Srl, NZ, WI and SA. In his last tour of UAE he didnt do much so let him play 20 plus tests to compare anything.

Babar has played just one knock in Pak and scored a 102* so playing and scoring centuries at home is a different proposition than touring.
 
Never seen a Pakistan batsman this consistent in all formats now that we have T20 as well. Probably i hve to back to Younis/Moyo/Inzi? It is almost an unbelievable phenomenan.
 
Never seen a Pakistan batsman this consistent in all formats now that we have T20 as well. Probably i hve to back to Younis/Moyo/Inzi? It is almost an unbelievable phenomenan.

Agree with you. Just one thing, Younis has never been a consistent performer in ODI's. He was actually a consistent non performer in tis format.
 
Abit too early to compare. Be interesting to see Marcus play more in the subcontinent to judge him. But he looks a top player in tests.
 
I think Labuschagne is well ahead at this point. Babar was pretty bad at test cricket prior to SA tour so he’s still catching up and looks to be improving
 
Labu is more talented than Babar while the latter compensates with sheer hardwork. Exciting prospects.
 
Odd comparison, Babar is more well rounded and top tier batsman. He has scored in UAE,SA,ENG,AUS in test, in last 2 years, his Test AVG is 50+, inspire of tough away tours he is getting to a top gear in all format... His big plus is that he can play spin like typical asian(which is far better than most westerners) and can play pace comparable to top westerners... Labu has to show that he can play spin before we make comparison....

Plus, Babar plays all format with flying colors, that is not an easy thing to do... His cover driver, I would still is one of the best, if not the best in the world ATM, and that is not the only thing in his armourer... There is lot more upside to Babar than Labu...
 
marnus just started, not comparable to babar now. babar is better now

babar has toured england, south africa, australia.

although, labu has shown the ability to score runs in tricky conditions, looks just slightly more settled on seaming pitches than babar
 
Labuschagne is very very good. He has figured out a Musbah-esque way to seek out runs regardless of the situation . Babar is more like Kohli in terms of fluency and glut of runs. They are different players and irrespective of who is better, cricket is the winner.
 
Babar is the better overall batter. This contest will heat up more when Labuschange plays ODIs regularly.
 
Posters who are actually comparing talent of Labu and Babar, I am not sure if they have right definition of talent in mind.

Labu is s good player but he is a limited one and his success comes from his organized technique and knowing his game.

There is a reason Babar is a success in across the formats, was considered destined for success as a teenager and was considered a prodigy. He has much better shot range, hand eye coordination, bat flow and other natural traits backed by his solid technique and batting intelligence.

When Labu achieves what Babar has achieved across the formats I will be happy to be tagged here and would admit I misjudged Labu’s talent.
 
Maybe because Labu's barely played outside of Aus. Also maybe because before the series against Pak, he was averaging in the 30s.

Had performed very well against England in England though. I don't see how that is relevant as well, because Babar only averaged 35 before that same series, and Labuschagne averages 16 more than Babar now
 
Had performed very well against England in England though. I don't see how that is relevant as well, because Babar only averaged 35 before that same series, and Labuschagne averages 16 more than Babar now

Babar played just two tests at home and scored 2 100s not out. Let Labu play 13-14 more tests and Babar to play more in Pak then we can have better understanding.

You remember Adam Voges; guy averaged 60 in tests when he retired but played only 20 tests. Point being stats can get exaggerated in less matches and Labu has played just 12.
 
Had performed very well against England in England though. I don't see how that is relevant as well, because Babar only averaged 35 before that same series, and Labuschagne averages 16 more than Babar now

Are you actually leaving out the fact that Babar was playing away and Labu was playing at home?

Labu was facing a no.8 fast bowling attack who had played less than 25 matches altogether while Babar was facing one of the best bowling attacks in the world in their Home.

I'm sure you can find the difference

Also, Babar played in SA and Aus this year (3+2)

What countries has Labu played in this year?Only England.
 
Last edited:
Ridiculous thread.

Lubuchagne hasn't even finished his first year. Why don't we compare him to Abid Ali? Or someone who hasn't debuted yet - since number of matches/conditions/venues don't figure in analyses.
 
Ridiculous thread.

Lubuchagne hasn't even finished his first year. Why don't we compare him to Abid Ali? Or someone who hasn't debuted yet - since number of matches/conditions/venues don't figure in analyses.

Don't think Babar has played enough either. But sitll being compared with 6000 plus test scorers as FAB 4 FAB 5.

Babar 47 innings 1703 runs

Labu 19 innings 1101 runs
 
Don't think Babar has played enough either. But sitll being compared with 6000 plus test scorers as FAB 4 FAB 5.

Babar 47 innings 1703 runs

Labu 19 innings 1101 runs

Because there are two other formats as well and Babar is ranked 1 and 3 in those along with being 6th in test.
 
Are you actually leaving out the fact that Babar was playing away and Labu was playing at home?

Labu was facing a no.8 fast bowling attack who had played less than 25 matches altogether while Babar was facing one of the best bowling attacks in the world in their Home.

I'm sure you can find the difference

Also, Babar played in SA and Aus this year (3+2)

What countries has Labu played in this year?Only England.

Played 4 tests against England, only 1 less overseas than Babar. Was the 3rd best batsmen from either side. Knocks against Pak basically worthless, but century against NZ was of the highest caliber. Would bet on having a better test career than Babar
 
Babar is destined to rule next decade in cricket. Labu will be a tailender in asian condition.
 
Fair enough. But OP put out only the Test stats. So thought it was about Tests. Also the title says Tests

In tests both have a long way to go. Babar has played 25 tests at varying positions but has scored some runs in Asia, Aus, Eng (Before getting injured) and was decent in his first tour of NZ as well. While Labu has mainly scored at home which in the case of Babar he has only played 2 tests and scored 2 100s not out. So as said earlier let Labu play 12-13 more tests outside Aus and Babar at home then we will have a better picture.
 
Played 4 tests against England, only 1 less overseas than Babar. Was the 3rd best batsmen from either side. Knocks against Pak basically worthless, but century against NZ was of the highest caliber. Would bet on having a better test career than Babar

Doubt it. But you'll just have to agree to disagree.
 
In tests both have a long way to go. Babar has played 25 tests at varying positions but has scored some runs in Asia, Aus, Eng (Before getting injured) and was decent in his first tour of NZ as well. While Labu has mainly scored at home which in the case of Babar he has only played 2 tests and scored 2 100s not out. So as said earlier let Labu play 12-13 more tests outside Aus and Babar at home then we will have a better picture.

By the look of it, he looks like a decent player against spin. He played some Laxman like on drives against the turn. Against Kuldeep (in his fifer innings) he looked sure until he mistimed one.
 
By the look of it, he looks like a decent player against spin. He played some Laxman like on drives against the turn. Against Kuldeep (in his fifer innings) he looked sure until he mistimed one.

He surely knows the art of surviving and how to adjust but still playing a good spinner in Aus is different than playing him in sub continent. I wont be surprised if he adapts to sub continental conditions but till he doesnt play more tests and some in sub continent as well, everything will be a prediction thus not comparable to anything known presently.
 
Never saw Babar play with such command as Labuschagne is doing at the start of his career.

Babar averaged a pedestrian 25.94 after 20 innings while Labuschagne is averaging 58.30

Also why are some PPers getting so worked up about Babar being compared with Labu just because the latter is new to test? These same people will then ask Babar to included in fab4. Hope you see your hypocrisy.
 
Never saw Babar play with such command as Labuschagne is doing at the start of his career.

Babar averaged a pedestrian 25.94 after 20 innings while Labuschagne is averaging 58.30

Also why are some PPers getting so worked up about Babar being compared with Labu just because the latter is new to test? These same people will then ask Babar to included in fab4. Hope you see your hypocrisy.

Babar played none of those 20 innings at Pak while Labu is getting game after game in Aus. Makes much bigger difference than many realize.
 
Gotta be fair to Labu. He has already played against world no.1 Test team. Only challenge he will face in Asian conditions will be against India something that Babar will never have to worry about.
 
Gotta be fair to Labu. He has already played against world no.1 Test team. Only challenge he will face in Asian conditions will be against India something that Babar will never have to worry about.
You're making it seem as if Babar's from SENA too. Lol.

Facing India in India would not have been hard for our batting side. Only the bowling would have struggled.
 
Gotta be fair to Labu. He has already played against world no.1 Test team. Only challenge he will face in Asian conditions will be against India something that Babar will never have to worry about.

He struggled in UAE too and Aus has lost 2-0 and 1-0 against Pak last time they faced them in UAE.
 
You're making it seem as if Babar's from SENA too. Lol.

Facing India in India would not have been hard for our batting side. Only the bowling would have struggled.

If you are strictly talking about vs spin i rate Labu over Babar from what i have seen. Babar doesn't pick the ball from the hand. Both times he got bowled by Kuldeep in odi he looked not sure which way the ball was going to turn. That too in one dayers where you have a bit more liberty against spinners. On the other hand in tests Labu looked more certain with his feet movement. Babar is good against pace. I don't disagree. In spinning conditions? not tested enough i must say.
 
But he played as an all-rounder in that series.

Yes he was being tried the 5th bowling option along with his batting. In domestic cricket as well he is a batsman who can ball decent leggies.
 
Come a long way since. Looking at the series, looked like he already improved in his second test.

Definitely. I think he has exceeded expectations of team management as well in last few months.
 
It is rare an Aussie that shows initial promise and falls away. Greg Blewett one guy who looked better than Punter at the start and succumbed to spin in India and fell away.
 
It is rare an Aussie that shows initial promise and falls away. Greg Blewett one guy who looked better than Punter at the start and succumbed to spin in India and fell away.

Quite a few recently: Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar.

All were hyped to a certain degree based on initial performances/promises but haven't been able to live upto the billing (yet). Obviously, this isn't just limited to Australia.
 
Last edited:
Quite a few recently: Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar.

All were hyped to a certain degree based on initial performances/promises but haven't been able to live upto the billing (yet). Obviously, this isn't just limited to Australia.
Nobody had a 11 match run like Labu. Marsh was talented. But he was just inconsistent. At no point of his career he had a run like this. In just 3 tests his average started dipping. I would understand if Labu had clicked only against Pakistan like Handscomb and Renshaw. He scored 4 consecutive 50s vs England, Then a century and couple of fifties against NZ. So it is not one off series. Besides he played well against spin.
 
got to say. He is quite good. babar is better. He plays for a weaker team and carries them single handedly.
 
Umm

Adam Voges?

We'll compare once Labu has played overseas a bit, and has a bit larger sample size.
 
Umm

Adam Voges?

We'll compare once Labu has played overseas a bit, and has a bit larger sample size.

Adam Voges was 34 when he got selected,Labu is young it's ok to compare with Babar.
 
Last edited:
Labu starts performing in limited overs aswell. now got a century in South Africa.
 
Labu can score 100s of centuries but he is so ugly to watch I'll never be his fan even if I was not a Pak fan
 
Let labu perform in Asian conditions in turning tracks..then we can take call....fast pitches are not the only places to judge ..babar has proved in both places..let's see what labu does in India, srilanka etc
 
Back
Top