A-team tips set to leave Labuschagne in top shape

Marnus Labuschagne will be calling on two state teammates who have experienced contrasting fortunes in the past week to hone his preparations for Thursday's first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba. 

After an impressive Ashes series cemented his spot in Australia's middle order, Labuschagne was spared the Australia A 'bat-off' against the tourists in Perth last week, instead taking part in a Marsh Sheffield Shield match in which he posted scores of 0 and 35 for Queensland.

But in order to best equip himself for the upcoming confrontation with Pakistan's high-quality pace attack, he will be speaking with a pair of Bulls counterparts: the recalled Joe Burns and the dumped Usman Khawaja. 

Khawaja, who has only missed two of Australia's past 23 home Tests (and those due to injury), faced 105 balls against the visiting side across his two innings, while Burns, who comes back into the side after being overlooked for the Ashes squad, only faced 23 in making scores of 0 and 11 but will offer Labuschagne a right-hander's perspective. 

"To play for Australia you need to make sure you come to the game prepared, and have a good understanding of what you're coming up against," the 25-year-old told cricket.com.au. 

"For the next few days I'll be preparing for conditions that I know but also bowlers that I haven't seen, so I can get that good understanding. Then it's about being clear with those plans and being able to stick to it for a long period of time.

"I'll definitely talk to the likes of Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns to get a gauge of (the Pakistani bowlers') skills and the way they go about their games. 

"I'll speak to Uzzy and just ask him about that sort of stuff, but I'll probably lean more on Joe just because he's a right-hander as well and obviously the angles and the shape is a little bit different, and guys tend not to be able to shape the ball into the leftie as much as they can into the righty."

Labuschagne has experience against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, having debuted there on Australia's two-Test tour there in 2018, but he believes the challenge for the tourists, as ever, will be adjusting their lengths to suit Australian conditions. 

Historically, fast bowlers have often gotten carried away with the pace and bounce of the wickets and played into the hands of the home batting group. 

"Naturally in Australia you have to bowl that fuller length, but that's easier said than done, especially when you're coming from a place where you hit a six-metre length to hit the stumps, compared to (needing to hit) a four-metre length in Australia," Labuschagne said. 

"It's a big difference. But they're very good players – they'll be able to adapt and learn."

Labuschagne made a vital 81 for Australia in his only Test appearance at the Gabba – against Sri Lanka in January – after coming to the crease at 3-76. On reflection, he views the performance as a breakthrough in Test cricket and one that encouraged him to put faith in the lessons he has learned at first-class level. 

"That was my first Test fifty," said the right-hander, who took 20 balls to get off the mark but scored his next 50 from 77 balls. "Being able to trust my process, having played at the Gabba a lot and knowing I could trust my leave and just lock in (for the long haul). 

"I remember really just trusting that I've played enough games at the Gabba to know that the scoring rate does turn once you get in. 

"After tea, especially on day two, that's where you can really hurt the opposition if you can get there as a batting unit.

"It was a good innings but it was disappointing to get out because that's one I look back at and think it was triple figures definitely wasted."

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: Australia A v Pakistan, match drawn

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)