Marnus Labuschagne passes 1000 runs in county cricket

With the Ashes drawing ever nearer, Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne is doing his best to keep himself in selectors’ thoughts with some record-breaking batting.

Marnus Labuschagne has moved past 1000 runs for Glamorgan. Picture: Getty Images

• Carey’s Test future in his own hands
• Quirk that has Warner primed for Aussie return
• Aussies call on Waugh to help end 18-year Ashes drought

Test incumbent Marnus Labuschagne has kept himself in the Ashes conversation, celebrating passing 1,000 runs for the county season with another century.

Labuschagne created history on Wednesday when he became the first Glamorgan player to hit centuries in both innings of a county match in 14 years.

The 25-year-old backed up his first-innings 106 against Worcestershire with an even 100 in the second innings in Cardiff, to make the first twin centuries of his first-class career.

Marnus Labuschagne has moved past 1000 runs for Glamorgan. Picture: Getty Images

Labuschagne, a last-minute signing as cover for Shaun Marsh, has now posted five tons from nine matches in the second division of England’s domestic competition.

Meanwhile his effort to reach four figures for the county championship year makes him the first player to pass 1,000 runs this season.

The right-hander, who featured in Australia’s past three Tests, was expected to be overlooked in the Ashes squad that will be named later this month on the eve of the series opener that starts on August 1.

His mountain of runs, coupled with some tidy spells of legspin bowling, may force a rethink.

Labuschagne will soon have a better idea of where he sits in the pecking order, with selectors mulling who to call in for the contest between Australia and Australia A that starts on July 23 and will be an Ashes selection trial.

Marnus Labuschagne in Sheffield Shield action for Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

Labuschagne and Cameron Bancroft, who scored 158 while captaining Durham in a recent match, were both notably left out of the Australia A squad that is currently in England.

However, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns noted at the time that “we have made it clear that strong form with their county teams will be taken into account”.

LISTEN UP: Menners and Sam Landsberger chew the fat about all things Cricket World Cup as we approach the business end of things.

Stream above or search Cricket Unfiltered on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from and subscribe.

If Hohns’ panel sticks with Nathan Lyon as the sole tweaker in the touring party then Labuschagne’s legspinners could help get him across the line, having been praised as a point of difference by selectors and skipper Tim Paine during the home summer.

Labuschagne, who will soon be replaced at Glamorgan by World Cup squad member Marsh, feels ready to play a role with the ball.

“My bowling has come a long way,” he recently told cricket.com.au. “It’s good that I’ve come over here, got used to the conditions, got used to the Dukes ball.”