Labuschagne slams another big century to send Ashes message | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Marnus Labuschagne scored his fourth century in five innings, bolstering his claim for the Ashes squad.
- Labuschagne was previously dropped for the West Indies tour but has made a strong comeback in domestic cricket.
- Former players, including David Warner and Matthew Hayden, support Labuschagne returning to his number three batting position.
- Incumbent opener Sam Konstas is under pressure after recording several low scores recently.
- Labuschagne's potential return to number three could result in Cameron Green moving to number six and Beau Webster being omitted.
Queensland batter Marnus Labuschagne has put forward an emphatic case for his return to Australia's Test squad by slamming his fourth century in five innings leading up to the Ashes. Labuschagne, who was dropped ahead of the mid-year tour of the West Indies following an extended lean spell, scored 159 off 197 balls against South Australia. This ton follows a 160 in the opening Sheffield Shield round and two 50-over centuries this season, demonstrating a significant return to form. His strong performance fuels debate over the batting lineup, with former greats advocating for him to revert to his usual number three position. This potential change would likely see all-rounder Cameron Green shift to number six and Beau Webster miss out in Perth. Meanwhile, incumbent opener Sam Konstas is struggling to retain his spot after a series of low scores, adding further selection headaches for the selectors ahead of the first Test on November 21.
