One of the best all-rounders to have ever played the game and the one who ruled the Ashes series in his prime, Sir Ian Botham has picked his Australian player to watch out for in the upcoming Ashes series.
Botham called Marnus Labuschagne “cherry on the cake” for an already strong Australian side with batsmen such as Steve Smith and David Warner, whom he rated as a “threat” for the Joe Root-led England side. Botham said that Labuschagne’s competitiveness and attitude stand him apart from other players and rated him as Australia’s best player at the moment even ahead of the likes of Smith and Warner.
Interestingly, Sir Botham also divulged his personal connection with Australia’s number three batsman and is looking forward to “sitting down and having a cold one with Labuschagne at some stage” and “watching him with interest” during the Ashes where he will be commentating on the games.
Botham’s grandson and Labuschagne got along well while the right-hander was playing County Cricket for Glamorgan in Cardiff although he was late to pick it up that it was actually Marnus Labuschagne whom his grandson was hanging out with.
“I think [Steve] Smith is going to have a big part, I think [David] Warner somewhere along the line is going to be a threat and, definitely, Labuschagne,” Botham said to the Sydney Morning Herald. “What I have seen of him has really impressed me. I like his attitude, his competitiveness. He could be the cherry on the cake for Australia.”
“Labuschagne is probably your (Australia’s) best player at the moment. I have watched his career. He was obviously playing with Glamorgan in the county championship in the UK.
“My grandson was also in Cardiff because he plays rugby for Cardiff and Wales. The two of them meet for a coffee, quite often. I didn’t realise this until I caught up with Labuschagne. The two of them get on very well, meet up for a coffee and a chat. They are both very competitive, that’s one thing for sure. That rubs off. I am going to watch him with interest in the series.
The Ashes series is scheduled to start at Gabba on December 08.