By scoring a brilliant 150-plus knock in the Sheffield Shield, the Australian batter has strengthened his case for a return to the Ashes squad.
The start, however, wasn’t smooth. Marnus Labuschagne couldn’t get off the mark in his first 12 balls. Then, two consecutive boundaries helped him settle in, and from there, it was all forward momentum. With a commanding innings that nearly touched 150, the Australian top-order batter reminded selectors of his worth in the Test side.
After breaking free from a run of poor form and reaching a remarkable milestone, Labuschagne expressed his gratitude toward his long-time teammate, Steven Smith.
On Monday, Queensland captain Labuschagne scored 160 runs against Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, Australia’s premier first-class competition. His 206-ball knock featured 19 fours and 2 sixes.
This was Labuschagne’s 33rd first-class century, and with it, the 31-year-old surpassed 12,000 runs in the format — a significant career milestone.
Just six months ago, Labuschagne was a key part of Australia’s Test lineup. But a string of disappointing performances saw him lose his place. His last Test century came back in 2023, and since then, he had gone 30 innings without a hundred — crossing fifty just seven times, with a top score of 90.
His last appearance in the Baggy Green was in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, where he scored just 17 and 22 in the two innings. Following that, the right-hander — with nearly 4,000 Test runs — was dropped from the team and left out of the West Indies tour in June–July.
This latest century comes as a huge boost in his fight to reclaim his spot, especially with the Ashes series on home soil fast approaching. Strong performances like this could open the door for his Test comeback against England.
Since making his Test debut in 2018, Labuschagne has spent countless hours at the crease alongside Steve Smith, one of the finest batters of the modern era.
Speaking on Monday, Labuschagne admitted that after being dropped, Smith remained a key figure in his thoughts — and someone from whom he continues to learn.
“Scoring a century is always special, and putting the team in a position to win on the fourth day is equally satisfying. I felt really good out there, and it seemed like I was reading the conditions well.”
“I think I’ve gone back to the basics of batting, and now my focus is simply on scoring runs. There wasn’t much of a technical issue… The good thing is, I’ve spent the past six or seven years playing alongside one of the best players in the world, and I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Last month, in the domestic List A One-Day Cup, Labuschagne struck a superb 130 off 118 balls against Victoria — an innings laced with 17 fours and a six.
Then, returning to red-ball cricket last Saturday in the Sheffield Shield, he produced another memorable hundred — one that was watched closely by Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey.
His innings wasn’t flawless, though. He survived a chance on 61 and narrowly avoided dismissal on 98 while attempting a sweep. Moments later, he reached his century off 154 balls and brought up 150 off 199 deliveries. Entering the crease in the 39th over, Labuschagne finally departed in the 115th over — after firmly stamping his mark on the game.
The upcoming five-Test Ashes series between Australia and England is set to begin on November 21 in Perth — and Labuschagne’s timely return to form could hardly have come at a better moment.
