Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has ramped up intensity ahead of the Ashes, issuing a pointed warning to England’s fast-bowling unit particularly Jofra Archer, just days before the first Test in Perth. The Australian batter, who first made global headlines during his fierce 2019 duel with Archer, insists he is batting better now than at any stage since that dramatic summer.
Speaking exclusively to The Age, Labuschagne said he feels in complete control of his game again after months of fine-tuning. He described his current rhythm as the best he has felt in years, a welcome boost for Australia as they prepare to host an England side loaded with genuine pace.
Marnus Labuschagne ready for Archer and England’s fast attack
“He’s a quality bowler, those were great battles in 2019 and we’ve had some good contests in one-day cricket at certain times, but it’s going to be great to see their bowlers come out here and see how they go as well,” Labuschagne said about Archer. “It’s been 18 months since I’ve been near my best, so it’d be nice to return to international cricket and play my best cricket. I genuinely feel like I’m batting better than I ever have now. The one time I feel like I was batting to a similar stature as I am now was probably the 2019 Ashes. With the freedom and the way I was playing and moving and able to apply pressure in numerous areas.”
He added that the steep, deceptive bounce of Australian pitches is what forces batters into mistakes. “It’s his delivery stride, how quick he is through the crease and probably the height he produces at the crease, because he uses his full height rather than collapsing his front leg. Those factors are key,” he explained.
England enter the Ashes with one of their fastest attacks in recent memory. Archer returns at full throttle alongside Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse, with Ben Stokes also expected to bowl. While the attack suits Australian surfaces, England faces a bigger challenge from history, they haven’t won an Ashes series since 2015, with their last triumph in Australia coming in 2011.
The series opener has shifted from the Gabba to Perth this year, offering England a fresh starting point after decades of struggles in Brisbane, where they haven’t won since 1986. Labuschagne, though, arrives in commanding form. Having been dropped after the World Test Championship final, he responded with four centuries in five Sheffield Shield matches, forcing his way back into the conversation in emphatic style. His final position in the XI may depend on whether Jake Weatherald is selected as a specialist opener, but his influence on Australia’s middle order feels locked in.
With England seeking a reset and Australia defending home dominance, Labuschagne’s early-season form and his readiness to face Archer adds another layer to
