Marnus stands tall amid day one carnage

Taken at first glance, Marnus Labuschagne's 41 on day one in Southampton might look like a modest score, however in the context of the entire day's play, his innings could be worth closer to 141.

The humble Queenslander played down his rearguard knock despite 17 wickets tumbling on a day where his side was bowled out for 105 before the Haddin XII struck back to reduce the Hick XII to 7-96 at stumps.

It is exactly the type of innings the selectors would have been hoping to see in the intra-squad match as they lock in the final pieces of the Ashes squad jigsaw, which is set to be revealed at the end of the week.

"You wish as a batter it counted as 141, but 41 is still just 41," Labuschagne told reporters after stumps.

"In a low-scoring game, those scores do help the team.

"But from personal view it's frustrating when someone does get in and doesn't get on with it."

Labuschagne, who is Australia's incumbent Test No.4, has been in imperious form for Glamorgan in Division Two of the County Championship and he carried that fine touch to England's south where he repelled a pace attack of James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Jackson Bird and Chris Tremain as his team collapsed around him.

It's understood the Australian camp requested an even covering of grass on the pitch to replicate the conditions the visitors are likely to face in the Ashes.

And the two star-studded pace attacks took full advantage of the green wicket, with the Hick XII bowling out the Haddin XII inside 43 overs before Haddin's side picked up seven wickets in the final session.

But amid the carnage Labuschagne stood tall, the right-hander facing more balls (81 to 72) and batting longer (126 to 92 minutes) than the rest of the Haddin XII's top five batsmen combined.

His innings under immense pressure, on an inconsistent pitch and against a high-calibre attack must have impressed coach Justin Langer – a batsman renowned for his grit and toughness – and boosted his chances for an Ashes call-up.

The 25-year-old put his performance down to his recent time spent with Glamorgan, for whom he has scored 1,114 runs at 65.52 with five centuries to comfortably lead the Division Two run-scorers tally.

"I've been playing over here for the whole season, so it's been really good," Labuschagne said.

"The preparation, and playing on the wickets have definitely helped.

"But out there today it was just about sticking to your process, sticking to the plans I've worked on during the summer, so it was good for it to come off a little bit.

"But 41 isn't one of those big hundreds, and that's what we want to get."

Bird and Labuschagne enjoyed a fierce battle in the morning session as the pair looked to outmaneuver each other under the selectors' gaze.

"He (Labuschagne) came down the wicket and across off stump to try and take away getting bowled and lbw," Bird explained.

"The wicket could nip and stay a little bit low so he took that mode of dismissal out and it seemed to work for him. Although he nicked one in the end that happens sometimes.

"It was good to see him have a plan. He's had a really strong start to the County Championship season. He brought that form into this game."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Tour match: Hick XII v Haddin XII, July 23-26

First Test: Edgbaston, August 1-5

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: Lord's, August 14-18

Third Test: Headingley, August 22-26

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: Old Trafford, September 4-8

Fifth Test: The Oval, September 12-16