Happy Birthday to the strangest bloke: Steve Smith wishes Marnus Labuschange on his 26th birthday

Marnus Labuschange, who leads the batting charts in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, is celebrating his 26th birthday today.

Australia batsman Marnus Labuschange is celebrating his 26th birthday on Monday, June 22 and wishes have been pouring in for the 3rd-ranked Test batsman.

Former Australia captain and World No. 1 Test batsman wished his buddy Marnus Labuschange, calling him ‘the strangest bloke’. Smith shared a photo of them in which the two cricketers can be seen enjoying a coffee.

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Steve Smith, a self-proclaimed latte artist, made sure he let the world know who among the 2 is better at the coffee art.

“Happy birthday to the strangest bloke and 2nd best latte artist in this photo,” Steve Smith wrote as the caption.

Marnus Labuschagne who made his Test debut in 2018 has risen the ranks quickly to become one of the best batsmen going around. The 26-year-old has already played 14 Tests and scored 1459 runs at a staggering average of over 63.

Labuschagne was Test cricket’s first concussion substitute as he replaced Steve Smith during the Ashes in 2019.
Labuschagne has not looked back ever since as he has gone on to become one of the most dependable Australian batsmen in their Test set-up.

Labuschagne is currently the leading scorer in the ICC World Test Championship with 1249 runs from 9 Tests at a staggering average of 83.26 with four hundreds, 7 fifties and a double century.

It was no surprise that batting great Sachin Tendulkar picked Labuschagne when he was asked to name a modern-day batsman who reminded the maestro of himself.

“I happened to be watching the second Test match (Ashes) at Lord’s between England and Australia. When Steve Smith got injured, I saw Labuschagne’s second innings,” said Tendulkar.

“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’. There is something about him,” Tendulkar added.

Labuschange said he was grateful for words of praise from Tendulkar and that he was stoked about it.

It was pretty amazing, it’s one that definitely when I saw it I was quick to read it and it really hit me. Amazing words from someone of that calibre. I was very grateful for his words and just stoked really,” Labuschange told cricket.com.au.