Glamorgan’s Marnus Labuschagne Named In Australia’s Ashes Squad

By Gareth James

Marnus Labuschagne has retained his spot in Australia’s initial squad for this summer’s Ashes series.

The Glamorgan batsman will serve under Pat Cummins who will lead the 17-man squad with Steve Smith as his deputy, while opener Marcus Harris, all-rounder Mitch Marsh and Inglis are recalled and David Warner is also included.

The squad covers the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval on June 7-11 and the opening two Ashes Tests, starting at Edgbaston on June 16.

Labuschagne and fellow Aussie Michael Neser – who may be called up later in the tour – have limited availability and will only be around from Glamorgan’s second County Championship match against Durham which starts at Sophia Gardens on Thursday, until Labuschagne links up with his Test teammates in early June.

https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1648599221388320770?s=20

Peter Handscomb and spinners Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann have been left out from the squad which toured India, but Warner retains his place despite a run of low scores.

Labuschagne committed to Glamorgan for two seasons after extending his deal with the county at least until the end of 2024.

Labuschagne, currently the ICC’s No.2-ranked Test batter, made 377 runs at 41.88 in five early-season Championship matches for Glamorgan last season, including a best of 130 against Derbyshire, before travelling to Sri Lanka for Australia’s Test tour in July.

His time at the club, however, was arguably instrumental in kickstarting his Test career, given the form he brought with him to the 2019 Ashes, when he made history at Lord’s as the first concussion substitute in Test history.

Labuschagne made 1,114 first-class runs in just 10 matches for Glamorgan in that first season for the club, and carried on in the same vein after replacing Steve Smith midway through the Lord’s Test, following his team-mate’s blow to the head from Jofra Archer.

Australia squad for the WTC Final and the Ashes. pic.twitter.com/UluiZxUJn6

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) April 19, 2023

He made 59 in that first innings, the first of four consecutive half-centuries, then backed that up on home soil with four scores of 143-plus in five Tests, including a career-best 215 against New Zealand at Sydney. He has since amassed 2,539 runs at 54.02 in 28 Tests, and in December 2021 he rose to No.1 in the ICC rankings.

The Australian selectors are leaving room to make changes to the squad if needed after the second Ashes Test with several other Australian players as well as Labuschagne playing county cricket.

Full squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Read more about Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne . . . A Study In Emerging Greatness And You Can Watch It At Glamorgan