“Four hundreds in five hits, pretty big statement”- Steve Smith on Marnus Labuschagne’s domestic form ahead of the Ashes

Marnus Labuschagne has made four centuries in five FC innings ahead of the Ashes 2025-26.

Steve Smith has stated that Marnus Labuschagne assured him before the season that he would return to the test team by the start of the Ashes 2025-26 against England.

Though the decision has yet to be confirmed by the Australia selectors, Labuschagne is almost certain to be called up after scoring two Sheffield Shield centuries in two matches—and four hundreds in five innings across the early domestic season—in a prolific return to form after being dropped in the West Indies earlier this year.

“I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him. He’s just gone back, and he’s got his fourth hundred in five hits. It’s a pretty big statement. He said to me at the start of the summer, he goes, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first [Ashes] Test.’ He’s backed up his words, probably. He’s obviously not selected yet, [but] he’s done a lot of things right,” Smith was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.

Marnus Labuschagne, who was not included in Australia’s ODI squad for the India series, was added to the squad for the second and third matches due to injury of Cameron Green.

“He knew he wasn’t batting as well.” – Steve Smith on Marnus Labuschagne

During the first ODI against India, Labuschagne mentioned that part of his problems stemmed from delving “too deep” into his technique and “trying to be too perfect,” which is similar to the instruction Smith gave him.

“We’ve all been there [dropped] at some point in our careers, and it’s difficult to hear it. But I think he knew he probably wasn’t batting as well as he had been probably four years ago, when he was scoring a mountain of runs.

“I think my advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically; just go and play the game, watch the ball, and react.’ I think he’s been doing that really beautifully, and he’s played so nicely,” he added.

While Labuschagne’s return appears certain, a huge question remains regarding where he bats in the order, given the ongoing argument over who starts alongside Usman Khawaja, as Sam Konstas’ struggles continue.

Labuschagne was promoted to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final against South Africa, and there is a good probability he will be asked to do so again.

“He can open, as we saw in the Test championship final. He can bat three. He’s versatile. We’ll see where it all stands when the team gets picked. I mean, it’s not too different from batting three, to be honest. He could be in the first ball. So, it’s essentially the same thing. I don’t think he needs to change anything if that’s the case. Just play the game, play how he has been, and see the ball hit it, and trust his instincts,” Smith stated.

Marnus Labuschagne, who made his Australia test debut in 2019, has played 58 tests, scoring 4435 runs at an average of 46.19 with 11 centuries and 23 fifties, with the highest score being 215.

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