AUS vs PAK | Preparation key to success, states Marnus Labuschagne

AUS vs PAK | Preparation key to success, states Marnus Labuschagne

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Ashes hero Marnus Labuschagne, who is looking to grab his opportunity with both hands, has stated that preparation is key for an athlete to succeed. Labuschagne, who had an incredible Ashes, also revealed that he will talk to both Khawaja and Burns to get an idea about the Pakistan bowlers.

Coming off a fabulous Ashes in England, Australian middle-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne is looking forward to start off the home season with a bang against a relatively inexperienced Pakistan bowling line up. Labuschagne scored 353 runs in the Ashes, where Australia retained the Urn, at an average of 50.42.

Labuschagne shared that he will be talking with teammates Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns as he prepares for what is to come in the series. He stressed on the importance of understanding what one is up against while playing for the country.

"To play for Australia you need to make sure you come to the game prepared, and have a good understanding of what you're coming up against," Labuschagne told cricket.com.au.

"For the next few days I'll be preparing for conditions that I know but also bowlers that I haven't seen, so I can get that good understanding. Then it's about being clear with those plans and being able to stick to it for a long period of time.

"I'll definitely talk to the likes of Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns to get a gauge of (the Pakistani bowlers') skills and the way they go about their games.

"I'll speak to Uzzy and just ask him about that sort of stuff, but I'll probably lean more on Joe just because he's a right-hander as well and obviously the angles and the shape is a little bit different, and guys tend not to be able to shape the ball into the leftie as much as they can into the righty."

Although Labuschagne has played against the men in green before in Test matches back in UAE, the current team is a completely different, revamped with a lot of energy and talent in it. He believes that the task at hand for the visiting bowlers will be to adjust their line and lengths according to the fast Aussie pitches.

"Naturally in Australia you have to bowl that fuller length, but that's easier said than done, especially when you're coming from a place where you hit a six-metre length to hit the stumps, compared to (needing to hit) a four-metre length in Australia," Labuschagne said.

"It's a big difference. But they're very good players – they'll be able to adapt and learn."

The Test series between Australia and Pakistan will kick off from November 21 at the Gabba, which is incidentally Labuschagne's home ground. 

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