Marnus Labuschagne has revived his red-ball career with a dominant performance in the Sheffield Shield, following his omission from Australia’s Test side. After a lacklustre performance in the World Test Championship final, the right-hander has responded strongly, scoring four hundreds in his last five domestic matches.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. Steve Smith, one of Australia’s most senior batters, has publicly backed Labuschagne for a return to the national setup. In an interview with The Age, Smith praised his teammate’s determination and the quality of his recent performances.

Labuschagne has not returned to the team yet, but his consistency has opened the doors for him. Smith also noted Labuschagne’s adaptability, saying he could comfortably slot into different positions in the batting order.

“He hasn’t been picked yet, but he’s impressed with his performances. We saw him open in the World Test Championship final, and he’s also capable of batting at number three. He’s a flexible player,” Smith said.

Smith credited a pivotal conversation with Labuschagne prior to the domestic season for helping the batter reset his mindset. He suggested focusing less on mechanical technique and more on instinctive shot-making, advice that has clearly contributed to Labuschagne’s recent success.

“Being dropped is never easy. I believe he realised he wasn’t performing at his best. I told him to stop overthinking the technical side, just focus on watching the ball and responding naturally. And I think he’s done that really well,” Smith added.