Marnus Labuschagne is the big early winner in the contest for Ashes top-order berths.
Dropped after June’s World Test Championship final, Labuschagne continued to make a strong case for an Australian recall when he top-scored with 160 for Queensland in their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania.
As Labuschagne starred on Monday at Allan Border Field, on the other side of the country young gun Sam Konstas had his second failure for NSW in their match against WA.
Konstas, the incumbent Test opener alongside Usman Khawaja, was dismissed for 14 after making four in the first innings.
Labuschagne’s first-innings Shield ton, with Australian selector George Bailey watching, followed his one-day century last month for Queensland.
His big Shield innings was not flawless – he was dropped on 61 and nearly blew his century with a wild swipe on 98.
Labuschagne went down the wicket to spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan and wicketkeeper Jake Doran could not take the chance. It was either a dropped catch or a missed stumping.
The ball ricocheted off Doran’s glove and landed clear of Jackson Bird at first slip.
Shortly after, Labuschagne brought up his 33rd first-class century with a four, all run.
He was the fourth wicket, with Doran eventually catching him off Radhakrishnan, as the home side built a solid first-innings lead.
Labuschagne hit 17 fours and two sixes and only faced 206 deliveries.
Khawaja made 69 and fellow opener Matt Renshaw also made his case for a Test recall with 128.
In Adelaide, Victorian Peter Handscomb was another former Test batsman to make national selectors take notice, top-scoring with 103 in the first innings against SA.
Queensland were all out late on day two for 612 after Tasmania made 379.
The Blues slumped to 6-90 after taking first-innings points by just nine runs in Perth.
Konstas was caught at point while trying to drive Matt Kelly square of the wicket.
Kelly took four top-order wickets to leave the Blues in a precarious position.
with AAP
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