Labuschagne leads Aussie contingent in county action

Marnus Labuschagne has been back among the runs for his county side Glamorgan and will be eyeing his first ton of the season at Derby.

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Labuschagne moved to an unbeaten 53, his best in five knocks so far this campaign, as the Australian influence on the Welsh county really shone during Friday's County Championship second division match with Derbyshire.

Before the world's top-ranked Test batter thrived, Michael Hogan and Michael Neser delivered with the ball, both taking four wickets to bowl out Derbyshire for 368 and drag Glamorgan back into the match.

Glamorgan captain David Lloyd scored 84 from 104 balls before Labuschagne took command, making an unbeaten 53 as the visitors closed on 4-240.

The 28-year-old Labuschagne, whose time at Glamorgan proved the launchpad for his Test career when called up for the Ashes in 2019, has averaged under 21 this term since joining the side following Australia's Pakistan tour.

But after a relatively lean spell by his standards, he looked to be ready to go on to a big one after striking eight fours and a six which sailed over the long on boundary.

The evergreen Hogan, at 40, continues to defy the years, snaffling up a couple of wickets before lunch on the way to figures of 4-55, while Queenslander Neser chimed in with 4-63.

Meanwhile at Bristol, Marcus Harris responded to his Test squad axing by moving comfortably to an unbeaten 30 out of Gloucestershire's 0-86 in reply to Surrey's massive 603.

Jamie Smith's maiden double century – he finished on 234 not out – and a second first-class hundred from Jordan Clark were the highlights of Surrey's monster score on a flat track, giving encouragement to Harris that his second county ton of the season could be on the cards.

Among the Australians elsewhere on the County Championship circuit, Nathan McAndrew bounced back from a disappointing outing with the ball for Warwickshire against Somerset, making 47 from No.9 out of 9-197, while Northants signing Matt Kelly chipped in with 2-31 as Essex fell to 8-95, with Queensland Player of the Year Mark Steketee four not out.

Australians in 2022 County Championship

Essex: Mark Steketee

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser

Gloucestershire: Marcus Harris

Kent: Jackson Bird

Middlesex: Peter Handscomb

Northamptonshire: Matt Kelly

Nottinghamshire: James Pattinson

Somerset: Matt Renshaw, Peter Siddle

Sussex: Josh Philippe

Warwickshire: Nathan McAndrew

Get the full rundown of Australians playing county cricket in 2022