By David Williams
Sam Northeast has warned England that his Glamorgan teammate Marnus Labuschagne is in “ridiculous” form already ahead of the Ashes series this summer.
Northeast shared a stand of 148 with Labuschagne as the Australian cracked an unbeaten 170 against Yorkshire at Test venue Headingley.
Labuschagne – who is at Glamorgan for an early season stint before linking up with the Aussies next month to take on England – has hit 299 runs in his last three innings.
“He was almost ridiculous at times,” Northeast said. “When he came out after tea and said he wanted to put his foot down, he did exactly that.
“He played some special shots. Unfortunately for England fans, he looks like he’s in pretty good touch.”
Patiently batting his way into the innings, with his first 50 coming from 108 deliveries, Labuschagne opted to go for broke soon afterwards.
He required only a further 38 deliveries to bring up his hundred, his seventh for Glamorgan – and he wasn’t done yet.
That is a pulchritudinous shot from Marnus Labuschagne
Hold that pose. #LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/ZhLnxwk784
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 6, 2023
After a somewhat shaky start to his County Championship stint with scores of 17, 5, 64 and 65, his eventual total of 170, including 16 fours, proved to be a major confidence boost.
“I have been a bit sort of all over,” Labuschagne said of his form. “It hasn’t felt like it has come together until that innings.
“I hit a few nice straight drives, a couple of nice cover drives and a nice flick through midwicket. That’s probably the most I’ve felt balanced at the crease, I felt like my head position was in a nice spot, my bat path was coming down nicely.
“For me it is taking it game by game and trying to build up that momentum that leads into the World Test championship and the Ashes.”
Glamorgan declared with a 491-run lead thanks to the combined efforts of Labuschagne and fellow Aussie Michael Neser who took career-best figures of seven for 32 in Yorkshire’s first innings as they chased Glamorgan’s opening total of 245.
Marnus Labuschagne went big against Yorkshire at Headingley 💪#CountyCricket2023 pic.twitter.com/1SNGtxXz8l
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 7, 2023
Their contribution meant Glamorgan set Yorkshire an unlikely target of 492 to win but rain spared Yorkshire from starting their battle to survive.
“We would’ve liked at least 20 overs at them before the close,” said Labuschagne, frustrated.
“We got caught a little bit by the rain at the end. If we came off, we couldn’t have gone back on in the rain, so we had to keep batting and we got almost 500 ahead.
“It’s not ideal, we would probably have liked to have a few overs – at least 10 minimum at them today.”
𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧
An unbeaten 170 by Labuschagne allowed Glamorgan to declare on 352-4 at tea on the third day of their @CountyChamp match at Headingley, setting Yorkshire a target of 492 runs. Rain prevented a resumption.
Read more 👇#GoGlam
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 6, 2023