Ashes hopeful Marnus Labuschagne has responded to his ODI axing by smacking another century for Queensland in the One-Day Cup, his third hundred of the summer.
Facing Tasmania at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field on Thursday, the 31-year-old cracked an 89-ball century, passing the milestone with a square drive against spinner Nikhil Chaudhary, who later dismissed the Queensland captain edged behind for 105 (91). His fifth List A hundred featured eight fours and two sixes, further demonstrating his capacity for the quick run-scoring he had lacked in the Test arena over the last 18 months.
It comes after the right-hander hit a 118-ball 130 during the Bulls’ One-Day Cup opener against Victoria and 160 during last week’s Sheffield Shield contest against the Tigers, named player of the match on both occasions.
Earlier on Thursday, Chaudhary put down a difficult return chance with Labuschagne on 91.
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Marnus Labuschagne of the Bulls. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Labuschagne is fighting for a Test recall having being dropped ahead of Australia’s Frank Worrell Trophy campaign against the West Indies in the Caribbean. His blistering form has put him firmly in contention for next month’s Ashes series opener in Perth, potentially playing as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja.
Earlier this week, Labuschagne was dropped from Australia’s ODI team following a worrying dip in form, averaging 13.80 across his ten most recent knocks in the national 50-over side. He managed scores of 1 and 1 during the recent ODI series against South Africa in northern Queensland.
However, the ODI omission gives him extra Sheffield Shield games to push his Test claims.
Bulls teammate Matthew Renshaw, who was dismissed by Tasmanian seamer Iain Carlisle for 38 on Thursday, replaced Labuschagne in the national white-ball squad, with the left-hander a chance of making his ODI debut against India next week.