In-form Marnus Labuschagne shares ODI dream after Queensland’s Shield win

Fresh from smacking an unbeaten 72 from 80 deliveries to hand Queensland a Shield win, Marnus Labuschagne has shared his aspirations for white-ball cricket.

Marnus Labuschagne of Queensland bats during the Marsh One-Day Cup Cricket match between Victoria and Queensland at Junction Oval in Melbourne, Tuesday, October 1, 2019. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

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He might be the only Queenslander in Test calculations but Marnus Labuschagne is determined to push his case for another international call-up this summer.

Fresh from smacking an unbeaten 72 from 80 deliveries to save the Bulls’ blushes against South Australia on day four of their Sheffield Shield clash, Labuschagne revealed his desire to play for Australia in the format where he first shot to fame — one-day cricket.

The South African-born Ashes hero emerged a white-ball specialist in the 2016-17 one-day series after plundering 271 runs at 45.16 to steer Queensland into a grand final berth and while he’s yet to post a List A century with his average dropping to 32.79, Labuschagne’s 2019 form alone demands attention.

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Marnus Labuschagne has outlined his goal of playing ODI cricket. Picture: AAP

Two starts against Victoria last month followed a brazen 67 in Queensland’s one-day victory over NSW and a big score on Wednesday could see Labuschagne rocket into ODI calculations for January’s tour of India.

“Yeah, I absolutely want to be playing white-ball cricket for Australia but you know my job is not to think too far ahead for white ball selection,” Labuschagne said on Monday.

“It’s just making sure it doesn’t matter what game, whether it’s for Redlands, for Queensland for Glamorgan or for Australia it’s just you’re scoring runs and trying to win games for your team.

Labuschagne has cemented his spot in the Test team with a fine Ashes series. Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP

“I think that’ll be what’s on my mind on Wednesday, making sure that we walk away from playing SA with two wins and not one.”

Labuschagne’s third half-century this season was his most impressive to date as the Redbacks’ pace attack failed to capitalise on Queensland’s 5-7 collapse late on Day 3.

Nick Winter removed Jimmy Peirson in the fourth over of the morning to give the visitors hope but Labuschagne was unperturbed, patiently building towards his half-century before smacking 22 runs from his final 13 deliveries to wrap up proceedings before 10am.

Labuschagne and Michael Neser steered Queensland to victory on day four of the Sheffield Shield against South Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The 25-year-old admits backing up from Monday’s four-dayer would be a new experience but says Queensland are ideally positioned to maintain their lead atop the one-day table.

“It’s the first time I’ll have played a one dayer on the back of a shield game so it’s going to be a new challenge but the benefit is that we’ll be playing on a similar wicket,” Labuschagne said.

“Probably be a bit faster, maybe not as much nip but we’re playing on the same ground so we’ve just learned the conditions for the last four days and we can trust the conditions moving forward.”

Queensland and South Australia kick off their one-day clash at The Gabba on Wednesday morning.