Marnus Labuschagne is set to open the batting for the first Ashes Test as Australia’s top order begins to take shape.
The Aussie veteran has been in sparkling form for Queensland and appears set to return to the national side after he was dumped earlier this year, but it won’t be in his preferred spot of No.3.
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Labuschagne’s most recent Test century came against England in 2023, with his lean run of form since then resulting in his axing for the 3-0 series win over the West Indies.
But 7NEWS Melbourne’s Theo Doropoulos reports Labuschange has won the race to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the first Test against England in Perth.
Sam Konstas, Matt Renshaw, Jake Weatherald and even veteran Mitch Marsh have all been thrown up as potential candidates to open the batting in Perth, but Labuschange will get the nod “barring a late change of heart”.
“Marnus forcing change after a dominant start to the domestic summer. The Aussie selectors leaning towards a Queensland 1-2 punch at the top of the order,” Doropoulos said on 7NEWS.
Pending fitness, Cam Green will bat at No.3, with Steve Smith, Travis Head and Beau Webster rounding out the top six.
Meanwhile, Khawaja has produced his best innings of the season just three weeks out from the Ashes, with a timely 87 for Queensland against NSW in the Sheffield Shield.
In a match that appears destined to for a draw, Queensland went to stumps on day three at 4-238 in reply to the Blues’ first-innings score of 7(dec)-429.
Renshaw missed out on a chance to further press his Test claims on Thursday when bowled for 29, Marnus Labuschagne was also out for five.
But there were at least positive signs for Khawaja, with the veteran’s form looming as crucial for Australia this summer.
While all eyes have been on who will partner him at the top against England, Khawaja only averaged 15.37 in four Tests last winter.
The 38-year-old has had scores of 69, 46 and 0 in the Shield for Queensland, before looking in good touch at the Gabba on Thursday.
Khawaja hit three boundaries in one over early from Ryan Hadley, while his shot of the day was a lovely drive down the ground off the quick later in his innings.
The left-hander also looked at his laconic best clipping Test teammate Nathan Lyon for two more boundaries through the legside, after sweeping the spinner for another.
But with a century in sight he fell in common fashion, edging a Charlie Stobo ball that was angled across his stumps and swung away.
Renshaw also gave himself the foundation to produce a score befitting his Test claims, before attempting to leave a Jack Edwards ball and edging it onto his stumps.
At Junction Oval in Melbourne, Campbell Kellaway crafted a superb third first-class century to put Victoria into a commanding position in their Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.
After 21 wickets fell during the first two days, Kellaway (147) and former Australia opener Marcus Harris (101 not out) took advantage of perfect batting conditions on Thursday.
Victoria reached 5-330 before declaring just shy of stumps on day three with a lead of 355, just after Harris brought up his 33rd first-class hundred.
Fergus O’Neill (1-10) claimed the key wicket of Test aspirant Jake Weatherald (12) as the Tigers slumped to 1-28, requiring 327 for an unlikely win on Friday.
Coming off a middling start to the season, Kellaway found the form that has gained him a reputation as one of Australian cricket’s brightest young talents.
The 22-year-old opener batted sensibly, lifting Victoria out of a precarious position at 4-91 with Harris in support.
After moving to No.3 this season after spending most of his career as an opener, Harris didn’t come walk to the crease until No.6 in this innings due to the Vics sending Mitch Perry (five) in as a nightwatchman.
Like Kellaway, Harris hadn’t fired yet this season, but was able to steady at the crease and cruise past 8000 Shield runs during his innings.
Tasmania’s bowlers found it tough going, with speedster Riley Meredith (2-87) the only one to take multiple wickets.
Meredith finally got Kellaway out late in the day, ending a 195-run fifth-wicket stand with Harris.
– With AAP