Not very long from now, the Ashes 2025–26 is coming back with the promise of another heated five-Test match battle between the long-time foes Australia and England, to be kicked off at the end of this year. In anticipation of this high-profile series, the Aussie batsman Marnus Labuschagne has loudly vocalized his desire to be back in the team shortly after he was dropped. The Queenslander, who last year was plagued by a slump in his performance, is now once again scoring heavily, and he certainly believes that he will be able to get his place back, which has impressed Steve Smith

Labuschagne’s form and confidence impress Steve Smith

Labuschagne’s self-belief was recently highlighted by senior teammate Steve Smith, who revealed that the No. 3 batter had backed himself for a Test recall long before his recent purple patch. “I sent him a message a couple of days ago saying how proud I was of him. He’s got his fourth hundred in five innings — that’s a pretty big statement,” Smith said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “He told me at the start of the summer, ‘I’ll be in that Test team come the first Ashes Test.’ He’s backed up his words.”

Smith also opened up about his advice to Labuschagne after his earlier struggles. “We’ve all been dropped at some point, and it’s never easy. I told him to stop thinking so technically and just play the game — watch the ball and react. He’s done that beautifully and looks in great touch. again,” Smith added.

Meanwhile, Smith could have an added layer of responsibility this Ashes series, with doubts surrounding Pat Cummins’ fitness. The Australian skipper is recovering from a back injury and might not be fully fit in time, putting Smith and Travis Head in contention to lead the side if required.

The first Ashes Test will begin on November 21 at Perth Stadium, setting the stage for yet another enthralling chapter in cricket’s oldest rivalry.