Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Labuschagne on the verge of Test return after Shield ton
Nicholas Quinlan • October 6th, 2025 2:58 pm
In one of the most highly anticipated Sheffield Shield bat-offs in recent memory, Marnus Labuschagne, according to Robert Craddock, might be able to all but secure his return to the Test squad in his first innings.
Following a strong performance on Day Two, which saw him make an unbeaten 54, the former Australian No. 3 has continued against Tasmania, passing triple figures just before Lunch on Day 3 as Queensland respond to Tassie's first innings score of 379.
With a strong performance to open his Sheffield Shield campaign, this had led the veteran journalist to believe that the Queenslander might have done enough to see him return to Australian team, considering Sam Konstas was out on four runs against Western Australia on Saturday.
“He’s looked good, a couple of clips to the leg side,” Craddock explained to Sam Edmund on SEN’s Whateley.
“This seems ridiculous to think, you could make a categorical statement on the strength of 20 to 30 runs.
“But if he gets up to 90 or so today, even 80, how would you possibly beat him for a place in the First Test (against England), given that Sam Konstas failed in Perth and he’s the next in line.”
This return to form for the former Australian No.3, according to Craddock, has been down to a change in mindset, with the 31-year-old no longer hindered by the potential of losing his spot.
“I think he is trying to play slightly more positively and get after the ball a bit more,” he added.
“I think he became too entrenched in saving his spot when he was last in the team.
“He’s on the verge of really nailing his place today in the test team.”
Labuschagne is not the only Queensland player to have made plenty of runs, with former Australia opener Matt Renshaw making 128 runs while the incumbent opener Usman Khawaja made 69.
Day Three of the Sheffield Shield is currently underway with Tasmania playing against Queensland at Allan Border Field, South Australia hosting Victoria at Adelaide Oval and Western Australia taking on New South Wales from the WACA.
The players will have another three rounds to press their case for selection for the Ashes, which begins on November 21.
