The Ashes 2019: Marnus Labuschagne’s Test success no surprise in Queensland ranks

Ashes revelation Marnus Labuschagne is possibly the only Test batsman who still organises games of backyard cricket with his mates. It’s all part of his obsession with the game.

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Marnus Labuschagne got smacked flush on the shoulder but the pain only roused him. He stared at the bowler and shouted “come on.’’

We’re are not talking Jofra Archer and the Ashes but the Australian under-19 titles in Adelaide when Labuschagne was just 17.

“It was against South Australia and he got pinned and just handled it like a boxer or a footballer ... you just love that in a cricketer,’’ said Queensland Bulls coach Wade Seccombe, then guiding the Under-19s.

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Marnus Labushagne has scored four consecutive half centuries in the Ashes series. Picture: AFP

The spicy retort was one of many small but significant tales that explain why there was satisfaction but no great surprise in the Queensland ranks at the courage displayed by Labuschagne who on Thursday, managed his fourth consecutive Ashes half-century in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

“He thrives on competition. He needs to compete.’’

Labuschagne has been the tour discovery with a fearlessness underpinned by a zest for all things cricket.

“He is a cricket tragic and I mean that in the nicest possible way,’’ Seccombe said.

“If he is not hitting balls with us he will hit balls down at Redlands. He is probably the only Test cricketer who still organises games of backyard cricket with his mates. It’s actually garage cricket. By all reports he gets a healthy crew around for hours on end.

Labuschagne has been impressive at the crease. Picture: Getty Images

“He is incredibly determined. Some of the great batsmen I have been around have a healthy dose of stubbornness to do things their way. He really owns his game.’’

Labuschagne at last got the chance to bat with Steve Smith in a Test and they gelled beautifully to add a crucial 116.

Seccombe senses some of Smith’s traits have been picked up by the younger man.

“The ball goes past the bat and he will indicate which way it is shaping like Smith does.

“We hear how Steve Smith bats all night in his hotel room and that has allowed Marnus to do the same.’’

Nothing much you could have done, Labuschagne... Absolute Jaffa from Overton. 🔥#ashes pic.twitter.com/iYzfB9VAIz

— Shashank Suresh (@naanobba_kalla) September 4, 2019

Labuschagne was quick to study his dismissal on Wednesday.

While celebrating Labuschagne’s success, Seccombe sympathised with fellow Bull Joe Burns, a surprising omission from the tour, and Usman Khawaja, dropped for this Test.

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“I feel very sorry for Usman because I still feel he is in the top couple of batmen in Australia but I know it is not going to take him long to get back.’’

“Joe has played 16 Tests and scored four hundreds and the selection criteria he is up against I am not sure I understand.

“It is incredibly hard for Joe but he has come back in the Queensland environment and is leading like nothing else.’’

Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Marnus Labuschagne’s Test success no surprise in Queensland ranks