Veteran Australian batsman Steve Smith, who is likely to lead the national cricket team in place of Pat Cummins for the first Ashes Test in Perth, has expressed full confidence in Marnus Labuschagne. Smith also revealed that Labuschagne had sent him a message regarding his selection for the Ashes 2025-26 series.
After being left out of the Test team for the first time in six years, Labuschagne took up the role of carrying drinks during the Test series against the West Indies, with Cameron Green filling his usual number 3 position. Labuschagne sent a message to Smith, who was holidaying in New York after Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne told me at the beginning of the summer – Steve Smith
Before the start of the Australian summer, Marnus Labuschagne sent a message to Steve Smith that he would return to the Test team for the first match. Labuschagne has been in remarkable form, scoring four centuries in five matches for the Bulls across all formats.
He has been recalled to Australia’s ODI squad and could be in contention for a place in the starting eleven for the opening Ashes match in Perth next month. Smith said he was proud of Labuschagne’s achievements.
“He said to me at the beginning of the summer, ‘I’ll be in that Test team, come in the first Test,'” Smith said. He has backed up his words.”
“I sent him a message a few days ago, saying how proud I was of him. He’s obviously been taken out of the team and he’s just gone back and he’s got four hundreds in (six) hits.
“It’s a huge statement. Obviously he hasn’t been selected yet, but he’s done a lot of things right,” he said.
I definitely get mentally exhausted easily… -Steve Smith
Steve Smith said he is feeling mentally fresh and ready for the Ashes after not playing since late August. Smith said he is preparing to lead Australia while managing his mental and physical workload effectively.
Smith said, “I definitely get mentally tired more quickly than I used to. Ten years ago I would have loved to come back and play every match I could. Now obviously my Test cricket has got a bigger priority.”
He said, “I know that when I play a lot in the beginning, by the end of the summer I become mentally very prepared and maybe not perform the same. Last year I was probably batting at my best towards the end of the summer against India, not playing much cricket in the beginning.”
It takes me two hits to solve it – Steve Smith
The star batsman said he focuses on mental freshness rather than heavy net sessions. Smith said he only needed a few hits to feel prepared for match conditions, which would allow him to concentrate fully on the game. He also said that his mentality elevates his performance on the field.
“To be honest, it takes me a couple of hits to recover. I feel like I’m ready to go now. Obviously there’s a balance, but I don’t think it’s going to take me too long to get back up to game speed and I want to try and stay fresh mentally.”
“Technically I feel in a good place, it’s about being fresh mentally. I’m not hitting as many balls as I used to. I try to get the most out of myself mentally when I’m in the middle and be able to concentrate for a longer period of time.”
He said, “It’s interesting how the brain works. I feel like I’m going to another level and trying to set a standard.”
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