Labuschagne relishing role as leader in ODI group

Playing in his first ODI series since 2020, Marnus Labuschagne is relishing the opportunity as a senior member of the Australian team.

Looking to consolidate a place in the top order ahead of next year's World Cup, Labuschagne has assumed the No.4 position in the batting line-up in a team missing the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh.

While he only scored 25 in game one (of three) against Pakistan on Tuesday, his 59 from 49 balls in game two overnight saw the star's multi-format ability emerge again, striking five boundaries to help Australia post a mammoth first innings total.

"I think I got tempo right today. I think that the pace I played out there really kept that middle period of the game going for us," Labuschagne said.

"We were able to sort of learn from the first game and I took some things on board that I really wanted to get right today, and it was nice to be able to execute.

"Obviously it's frustrating to get out there in the back-end where it was a bit of party time, where I could actually express myself and try and clear the rope a bit.

"But that's the way the game goes when you keep trying to push and you need to get scores of 350-plus to win games – you're going to have to play high-risk and sometimes it's not going to come off."

With a host of senior players unavailable, it is not just consolidating a spot in the batting order that Labuschagne has been looking for.

The 27-year-old is renowned for his enthusiasm in the field, and said he's taken the chance to hone his leadership qualities with the help of skipper Aaron Finch.

"I'm always there if there's an opportunity for me to share with the captain if I've got an idea, and it's up to Finchy to sort of have a think and if that's valuable, use it, and if it's not, then it's not there," he said.

"Obviously I spend a lot of time in the ring and talking to the bowler and just try to help out where I can, so that's sort of the role there.

"I'm certainly not the captain, I'm just trying to help out where possible."

Despite posting 348 in the first innings, centuries from Pakistan captain Babar Azam and opener Imam ul-Haq saw the hosts chase the target down with an over to spare.

While disappointed with the loss – which sent the series into a deciding match on Saturday – Labuschagne said it was still a memorable game for him, having been in the middle when childhood friend Ben McDermott brought up his maiden international century.

The two put on 74 runs for the third wicket and shared a warm embrace as McDermott moved past three figures with a huge six down the ground.

"Me and Ben go back to under elevens and under twelves playing together," Labuschagne said.

"We were best mates growing up in Australia; he was over at my house almost every second day, coming on the train home and we used to (play) in my backyard.

"It's a very special moment for me to be able to share that with him and the history we have, we've been very good friends for a long time.

"The hard work that he's putting in domestic cricket in the Big Bash and his four-day game as well has just come such a long way, and I was I was over the moon for him today."

While the two haven’t been in Australia’s first choice sides over the past few seasons, Labuschagne said it was great to see the depth in Australia's white ball ranks and hoped they would be in the selection frame ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

"The likes of Travis Head and Ben McDermott have shown just in two games that the opportunity is there, and they've taken it and it's awesome to see these guys come out and play the way they have been," he said.

"We've almost got backups to every position which is good because it means that people are under pressure to perform and I think that's a good thing for Australian cricket, to make sure people have always got their best foot forward for Australia.

"The depth in the batting and in the bowling stakes at moment is so deep."

The final match of the series to be played on Saturday in Lahore looks set to come down to the batting once again after two high-scoring matches so far, with Labuschagne acknowledging the wickets of Babar and ul-Haq were key.

"I enjoyed every minute of watching – it was a pity it was against us," he said of Babar's 114 on Thursday.

"I sat back and I took some things on board for my own game to learn from that innings.

"I think if we can find a way to get him out early, put a bit more pressure on the middle-to-lower order, we're a chance but he batted us out of the game today and fair play to him.

"We have to think maybe a little bit more outside the box, I think he's (ul-Haq) played beautifully.

"He hasn't really put a foot wrong and he's the type of player that doesn't give you many opportunities to get them out."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

First Test: Match drawn

March 12-16: Match drawn

March 21-25: Australia win by 115 runs

Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique*, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq*, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel*, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir (*ODIs only)

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa

March 29: Australia win by 88 runs

March 31: Pakistan win by six wickets

April 2: Third ODI, Lahore

April 5: Only T20I, Lahore

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports