Marnus Labuschagne

In the 2019 Ashes at Lord's, Marnus Labuschagne became the first concussion substitute in Test cricket. Replacing Steve Smith after the latter was struck by a bouncer, the then-25-year-old made a defiant 59 and followed it with three more fifties in the series. That was just the beginning: he finished 2019 with over 1,100 Test runs, turning himself from a fringe all-rounder into Australia's rock at No.3. His twitchy, obsessive presence at the crease became a hallmark, a stark contrast to the languid style of many of his predecessors.

Born in Klerksdorp, South Africa, Labuschagne moved to Australia as a child and rose through Queensland's ranks. A leg-spinner and handy batter at first, he reinvented himself through relentless technical work, honing a quirky method complete with constant self-talk and an exaggerated shuffle. By late 2021 he was the world's top-ranked Test batter, having piled up heavy runs at home against England, India and Pakistan. His white-ball career lagged behind, but his Test output alone made him indispensable, and he was part of the Australian sides that won the 2023 World Test Championship final and retained the Ashes that year.

Off the field he is an obsessive student of the game, and in it he is a willing catcher at short leg. His unorthodox footwork can raise eyebrows, and leaner spells have followed the golden early years, but his worth is measured in long innings ground out on sunny days and overcast ones alike.