Konstas fails again, Labuschagne surges into prime spot for Ashes recall

Marnus Labuschagne surged into prime position for an Ashes recall with his second century in three innings, but Sam Kontas completed a horror trip to Perth when he was out cheaply for NSW a second time against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

After being pinned lbw by Joel Paris’ stock inswinger on day one, Konstas walked out to bat on Monday as the Blues tried to build on a narrow first-innings lead in a low-scoring game.

He would have been aware that Labuschagne, who lost his Test spot to Konstas in the Caribbean earlier in the year, had already passed three figures for Queensland against Tasmania in Brisbane. He needed a score of some note to keep himself in the selectors’ conversation.

A couple of early boundaries helped Konstas get away to 14 from as many balls, but he then drove loosely at a length ball from the-right arm seamer Matthew Kelly and sliced a catch to Ashton Agar at point.

Fellow opener Blake Nikitaras was out soon afterwards, before Test all-rounder Cameron Green took a trademark, flying catch in the gully to get rid of Kurtis Patterson. NSW limped to 6-86, an overall lead of 95, approaching tea on day three.

The visitors got a bizarre reprieve in the afternoon session when Chris Green was initially given out caught behind by umpire Gerald Abood, before the decision was reversed. Green had been extremely reluctant to go, indicating the ball had come solely off his helmet, and Abood ultimately agreed.

WA’s players accepted the turn of events with little rancour, and were rewarded soon afterwards when Green toe-ended another short ball from Kelly into the slips cordon.

On Tuesday, a Cricket Australia spokesperson said the playing conditions allowed the umpire to reverse his decision, and that Monday’s reversal ultimately led to the correct decision being made.

CA said the umpire did not see a replay of the play before reversing his decision and said Green’s reaction had no influence on the umpire’s change of mind. However, Green was issued a code of conduct breach for showing dissent.

Konstas had walked off the WACA Ground with his head bowed, appearing to sense that the battle for the Test top six had swung measurably this Monday afternoon.

The wind is now favouring Labuschagne, who was dropped after the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s, but started his Shield campaign with a hundred at No.3 for Queensland, after also reaching three figures in a one day game for the Bulls.

Labuschagne survived what was either a caught behind or stumping chance on 98 before getting to his century, which he celebrated heartily after a difficult winter.

Carrying on from there, Labuschagne forged his way to 160, the kind of big hundred he made often during the richest years of his Test career, from 2019 to 2022.

It is now hard to see Labuschagne missing the squad for the start of the Ashes, although where exactly he’d bat is less clear. Wherever that is, he has now put up enough runs to suggest that his confidence and batting method have benefited from some time out of the Test side.

Selection chair George Bailey was at Allan Border Field for the game and has now seen two top order centuries from the Queensland XI for Matt Renshaw (128) and Labuschagne, plus a fluent half century from incumbent Test opener Usman Khawaja (69).

In Adelaide, Australia A skipper Nathan McSweeney did not aid his chances of a Test recall by getting a second low score of the game for South Australia against Victoria, this time being caught behind trying to hook a short ball from David Moody.

Victorian captain Pete Handscomb had earlier sculpted a hundred to guide the visitors to within seven runs of SA’s first innings tally of 350.

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