Marnus Labuschagne only played one Test against India two summers ago but says it was the making of him

Many players need a Test century to introduce themselves as truly world-class players. For Marnus Labuschagne it was a simple elevation up the order.

Marnus Labuschagne has reflected on the cavalier move that helped catapult him to stardom as he prepares to launch into another summer of dominance against India.

Test cricket’s best newcomer showed the world what he was made of during last year’s Ashes when he came out at Lord’s as Steve Smith’s injury substitute and bounced up off the canvas after wearing his own early blow to the helmet from Jofra Archer to make a gutsy 59.

But the moment the Queenslander convinced the Aussie dressing room he had the ticker to make it as a Test star came six months earlier against India, when he was thrust in at No.3 for a final Test at the SCG.

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Marnus Labuschagne is struck by a Jofra Archer delivery during last year’s Ashes series.

Selectors were hammered for the decision given Labuschagne’s up and down performance on debut against Pakistan in the UAE and patchy Sheffield Shield record, but in that moment he proved he’s a player who thrives best when thrown into the deep end.

Shaun Marsh, Travis Head and Peter Handscomb might have all been safer choices at No.3, but Labuschagne took the bit between the teeth and didn’t look back.

Labuschagne made only 38, but he batted time against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, and attitude wise, he convinced himself – and his coach - that he was a heavy-duty Test batsman in the making.

“I’ve always loved batting at No.3. I’ve really enjoyed the pressure that goes with batting there,” said Labuschagne, who will also tackle India in the ODIs starting on Friday at the SCG.

“That was definitely a big moment for me. An awesome opportunity to bat at No.3.

“I remember I was batting at 5 or 6 on debut in the UAE and I actually found that really challenging, because I’d never been used to waiting so long to bat.

“I just remember going up to No.3 (for Sydney) and I was a lot more used to the circumstances.

“That experience gave me a taste of what it’s like to play against India. The series was already lost at that stage, but the intensity was so high and I came up against probably one of the best bowling attacks going around in international cricket.

“It definitely gave me the confidence that I can do it at that level.”

The innings that made Marnus Labuschagne was against India at the SCG in 2019.

Labuschagne blasted nearly 900 runs and four centuries from five Tests last summer, in one of the great individual performances by a batsman in recent Test history.

Close teammate and mentor Steve Smith is one of the only other batsmen in the world to know what it’s like to operate in such a sweet spot, and it’s something Smith has been able to back up consistently.

Avoiding second summer syndrome is a challenge for any young player, but there is no sign of Labuschagne’s brilliant form ailing, after hammering two centuries for Queensland to start the Shield season.

In Smith, he has the perfect sounding board for turning a magical summer into a magical career.

“We talk a lot about batting and cricket and always about learning and making sure that you’re understanding the game,” said Labuschagne.

“I think the more you can understand how things are going to go with your batting, and you understand how they’re going to bowl at you, the more consistent you’re going to get.

“The conversations we’ve had have centred around making sure you’re still learning and are ready for the next challenge and the next opponent.”

Labuschagne celebrates his Shield century against New South Wales.

There was some surprise expressed around Australian cricket when Labuschagne was overlooked to captain Queensland for the opening Shield matches.

It’s not to say Usman Khawaja isn’t an obvious leader for the Bulls, but more that Australian selectors are desperate for its players to get on-the-job captaincy experience to provide options when Tim Paine does eventually pull the pin as skipper.

Current vice-captain Pat Cummins has never captained NSW for example, and despite being talked up as a future Test captain by England great Michael Vaughan, Labuschagne also remains raw on experience.

“You don’t need the title next to your name to be a leader. It’s about helping my team out wherever I can and those leadership roles might come later in my career, if they do come,” he said.

“It’s just making sure you are ready for when they do come. There’s no push.”

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Originally published as Marnus Labuschagne only played one Test against India two summers ago but says it was the making of him