IPL 2020: 5 young overseas players who could attract a lot of attention on auction day

#4 Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne is a promising 25-year-old batting all-rounder from Australia. The IPL franchises would have seen his exploits in the 2019 Ashes where he played as the first-ever concussion substitute on Day 5 of the second Test, replacing Steve Smith.

The right-hander used Smith's absence well and scored the team's highest second innings score of 59. As a result, the team management included him regularly from thereon.

Labuschagne scored three more fifties and finished the tournament as the leading half-centurion. He was also Australia's second-highest run-getter after Smith.

It was his brilliant county stint with Glamorgan earlier in the year that helped him catch the attention of the selectors. Labuschagne amassed 1114 runs in 10 matches at an average of 65.53, which made him the second leading run-scorer in the 2019 County Championship Divison Two.

Players who do well in red-ball cricket tend to have plenty of patience; even if they don't explode often, they make wise shot selections and anchor the innings. If any of the IPL teams are looking for such a batsman in the upcoming season, Labuschagne is the best choice.