Labuschagne will ultimately need to continue his strong form in the Sheffield Shield campaign if he is to garner a recall in time for the Ashes, having been usurped by Sam Konstas in the Carribean after averaging just 30.91 dating back to the start of 2022.
But he believes the format of the game doesn’t matter, but that the processes he implements at the wicket will trigger his Test second-coming.
“Nothing else matters but runs, and the format doesn’t matter. It just matters that you’re scoring runs, and for me, I know if I’m playing my best, I’ll find my way back in the team,” he said.
“But that’s not my job; my job is to try and win games for Queensland right now, and to win the first game of the season like we did is pretty special.”
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Queensland appeared on course for a smooth victory, reducing Victoria to 5-104 in their pursuit of the Bulls’ 5-310 – until Glenn Maxwell joined the crease.
The man they call “The Big Show”, who recently retired from international one-day cricket, struck a typically devastating 107 from just 82 deliveries, including eight boundaries and seven sixes, to keep his side in the hunt.
While Maxwell also claimed bowling figures of 1/46 from his eight overs, he laughed that Labuschagne got the better of him as the former world No.1 Test batsman targeted Victoria’s spinners.
But the veteran all-rounder believed his old Australia teammate had the tools to use Wednesday’s innings as a platform back to cricket’s upper echelon.
“He batted nicely, it was the perfect scenario for him: they had a heap of wickets in hand, the wicket was pretty slow, and we probably weren’t able to get as much out of the wicket having only three seamers,” Maxwell said.
“I think when he’s aggressive and making good decisions on the front and back foot, when he’s hurting you on both sides and still able to hit gaps, that’s when he’s at his best and when I’ve seen him play really well.
“He’s able to absorb pressure if a team’s in trouble, and he’s able to take the air out of the opposition. I’ve seen him play so many different roles, but I think, personally in my book, when he’s aggressive and taking the game on, I’ve seen him at his best.”
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