Ashes 2019: Marnus Labuschagne thriving with kindred spirit Steve Smith is not a surprise anymore

The Queenslander has shone since being introduced in the series and secured a fourth successive half-century to start his Ashes career

Is it a surprise to anyone that Marnus Labuschagne was walking through the streets of Manchester with Steve Waugh the evening before this Old Trafford Test? Is it a surprise to anyone that Labuschagne and Steve Smith had huge smiles on their faces when joining at the crease together for the first time in a Test with the score 28 for two with Stuart Broad on the cusp of busting through Australia’s top order in another vital Ashes rubber?

When the Queenslander was picked in this squad, not a lot was known about him by those outside the Australian cricketing beltway. Sure, he turned out in a handful of Tests while the Sandpaper Trio were serving their bans, tucking in handsomely for Glamorgan as well, but when he strode out as Smith’s concussion substitute on the final day of the Lord’s Test, the prevailing talking point was the Australianised pronunciation of his Afrikaans surname.

Three weeks later, Labuschagne is a known quantity to the point where – Smith aside – he is the most important batsman in Australia’s line-up. Certainly so with David Warner struggling to get out of first gear. Where the opener is getting out early and often – on this occasion dismissed by indecision – the new kid on the block is starting his contributions with a meditative degree of abstinence. On Wednesday, CricViz assessed him as having played just two aggressive strokes to the first 36 balls he faced – driving a pair of half-volleys. Across four innings in this series, he’s attacking fewer than one in ten in his initial 30 deliveries.

This has always been Smith’s jam, of course. When going through his golden period – the apex of which was the Ashes of 2017-18 – he would often discuss the control he needed to exercise across his first 30 balls. Through to that point, his batting average when reaching that early milestone was an absurd 85. But now, Smith’s idiosyncratic leaving technique isn’t so idiosyncratic – Labuschagne has all-but adopted it, especially early on. Who better to emulate than the cricketer with the second-best statistical record in the history of the sport?

Once into his groove, Labuschagne cut a pair of identical boundaries off Jack Leach before the spinner found his range, then dispatched two floaty Craig Overton deliveries as the recalled quick located his own. There was a close call for leg before when Ben Stokes got it hooping and a catch that nearly carried to midwicket, but he went to lunch one short of another half-century. When it came two balls after what turned out to be a three-hour breather due to rain, from his 88th delivery, he became just the fourth player to raise his bat four times in a row to start his Ashes career. Mike Hussey did it five times. Would it surprise anyone if he match Mr Cricket?

Smith, meanwhile, was defending on the move at Jofra Archer from the get-go, shaking off any suggestion of a post-Lord’s funk against the England tearaway. Granted, he wasn’t so rapid this time around but the first stanza of this rematch was made to feel underwhelming by Smith’s routine when getting to his happy place. He made it uneventful. Instructive, too, was how he made the most of a couple of sloppy offerings from the other man trying to define the series in his name – Stokes. Driving and pulling the all-rounder, he was quick to 20 and set.

Labuschagne reacts after his dismissal (Getty Images)

After the mizzle, as beach balls and crisp packets and bails and hats drove Broad to distraction, it didn’t Smith. Such was his confidence, he was willing to slump to his front knee to slay Stokes through point to bring up his own 50. Labuschagne may now have four against England, but the master now has clocked eight on the trot – more than anyone, ever.

Smith settled in quickly once again (Action Images via Reuters)

“It was a bit surreal,” Labuschagne said at stumps when reflecting on his first partnership with his kindred spirit, worth 126. “I love talking to him about the game and learning off him, it’s a great experience and he’s a great player. I’m just taking in as much as I can. We’re constantly talking out there about what the bowler is trying to do and what he’s trying to do. We’re thinking similar, thinking about where they’re trying to get us out and stuff like that.”

Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot (AFP/Getty)

It took a big, biting cutter reminiscent of Overton’s first wicket in Test cricket at Adelaide in November 2017 – where he picked up Smith – to get rid of Labuschagne, kissing his off-stump on 67. He left the field furious that day one wouldn’t be the day where he secured a Test ton for the first time. But his job, once again, was done. While neither he nor Smith have played an innings in this series that hasn’t resulted in at least a half-century – the rest of their teammates combined are averaging 18. And Smith gets to go again in the morning, resuming on 60. Would it surprise anyone if he salutes again? Of course not.