After Labuschagne, here's another 'batting clone' of Steve Smith!

Australian batting star and former skipper Steve Smith is in a league of his own, thanks to his run-scoring abilities and unorthodox batting technique. The right-hander was the second top run-getter in Tests last year, with 965 runs in eight matches at an average of 74.23.

Interestingly, and ironically, he was beaten to the top spot by Marnus Labuschagne, who came into the Aussie playing XI in place of Smith as a 'concussion substitute' in the second Test of the Ashes series, in August 2019. The 25-year-old scored 1,104 runs in 11 Tests last year. Apart from their prolific form, both Labuschagne and Smith, who are part-time leg-spinners too, were also noticed for their similar batting technique, including the “light saber leave”.

ALSO READ: Marnus Labuschagne: The 'concussion substitute' who stayed put

Now, another batting clone of Smith seems to have emerged in the form of New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips. Cricket Australia shared a video showing both Smith and Phillips at the crease, and captioned it, “”Do we have another Steve Smith clone?”

The 23-year-old, making his Test debut in the ongoing third match against Australia, at Sydney, top scored for the Kiwis with a fighting albeit lucky 52.

The Aussies took a commanding 243-run lead over New Zealand on day 3, and look set for a clean sweep of the series. The Black Caps were dismissed for 251 in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 454.

Phillips, who came in on the eve of the Test as cover for a team weakened by a virus outbreak, was dropped twice—on 2 and 17—and given a reprieve when caught off a no-ball.

At stumps on day three, the hosts were 40 without loss with David Warner on 23 and Joe Burns on 16.