Labuschagne tons up for Glamorgan

Marnus Labuschagne has struck an unbeaten century in Glamorgan's second innings to help orchestrate a remarkable turnaround in their County Championship clash in Newport, south Wales.

Labuschagne was unbeaten on 128 at stumps on day three of Glamorgan's match against Gloucestershire, with the Welsh county having been asked to follow-on after conceding a first-innings lead of 213.

Labuschagne's dashing knock saw him reach his century from 112 balls while teammate Nick Selman – who was born in Brisbane and plays Queensland Premier Cricket with the Sunshine Coast – hit a career-best 148* not out as Glamorgan reached stumps at 1-359, a lead of 146. 

Another Queensland Bulls batsman, opener Charlie Hemphrey, hit 58 in an opening stand of 133 with Selman who struck his first county ton since 2017.

The century is Labuschagne's second in as many first-class games for Glamorgan following his 121 on debut for the county against Northamptonshire at Cardiff in early April. He boasts a County Championship average of 138 so far this season. 

He had endured a disappointing run of form in the one-day cup in between, where he hit a total of 123 runs at 17.57.

But the Queenslander did show signs of a return to form in the county's final outing against Sussex where he struck 54.

"It's a different pressure. It's great for players to experience it," Labuschagne said of the expectations of being an international recruit to a county side.

"You have to find runs, have to find a way to help the team win. Sometimes when you're back at home you can get caught up in technical stuff.

"But here you're playing so many games back to back you have to find a way to contribute," he told the Cricket Unfiltered podcast.

Labuschagne has played five Tests and is the incumbent No.4 batsman having played both Tests against Sri Lanka at the back end of the Australian summer.

Performances for Glamorgan will be paramount if he wishes to hold his place in the Test squad as one of a number of Australian players who will remain with their county side rather than feature in the Australia A matches.

"We have Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle and Daniel Worrall in our sights but they have not been included in the squad and will continue to play through this period with their County teams," Hohns said.

Bancroft added 25 to his first innings 70 for Durham as they were bowled out with just an 80-run advantage over Worcestershire.

Renshaw hit 13 before he was bowled in Kent's second innings following his first innings score of 16, while Joe burns is unlikely to get a second bat after his first innings of 10 with his Lancashire side needing just 16 for victory against Northamptonshire.

Siddle finished with match figures of 3-65 off 32.3 overs to go with his first innings score of 40 not out as Essex routed Nottinghamshire for an eight-wicket win on the third day.

Worrall is out of Ashes contention having flown home with a back stress fracture that is expected to keep him from bowling for at least 12 weeks.