Labuschagne a certainty for first Ashes Test. The only question is where

Once-exiled Marnus Labuschagne has guaranteed he’ll be recalled to the Australian Test squad for the Ashes series, peeling off multiple hundreds for Queensland to open the summer, though where he’ll play is yet to be decided.

Labuschagne may well be the answer to the opener question that has been plaguing Australia heading into the all-important England grudge match next month, though he often plays better batting at number three.

The biggest argument for keeping him at three – a role he played nearly every time he appeared in his first 58 Test matches – is simply that it keeps things simple. With Labuschagne already needing to prove he deserves selection, having to adapt to a key new role at the same time may do more harm than good for both the 31-year-old and Australia alike.

He has been in the ODI squad to face India, but hasn’t been promoted to the starting XI there yet; should he make the side in Thursday’s clash (which could see Australia close out the series), that would answer some questions early.

For Marnus, he thinks the answer is simple: “Wherever the selectors and the coach put me, that’s where I’ll be batting,” he told FOX on Sunday, though he did point out No.3 has been his career-long preference.

“I’ve batted my whole career for Australia at three,” he added.

“[But] there’s nothing more to be said about it… it’s wherever they put me is where I bat.”

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When he does return, he’ll have some Steve Smith advice waiting to employ. The stand-in skipper already texted Labuschange, sharing a word of wisdom at the same time. “My advice to him was ‘stop thinking so technically, just go and play; watch the ball and react,'” Smith shared. “He’s been doing that really beautifully, he’s played so nicely.”

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Should Marnus play at three, the opener question will stay. Usman Khawaja will be one of the two in the vanguard, but with incumbent young gun Sam Konstas struggling lately (he’s made 4, 14, 0 and 53 in his four Shield innings of the season and scored a century for Australia A in India last month), the man alongside Ussie is still very much up in the air.

Options include Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Nathan McSweeney, or rookie Campbell Kellaway. Another pick this Sporting Base writer offered up earlier this week was Mitch Marsh, who’s been in hot form.

Smith could even return there, though that experiment is hopefully over after early 2024.