Overview
- Marnus Labuschagne struck 101 off 111 balls as Queensland posted 9-287 and beat New South Wales by 96 runs at Sydney's Cricket Central.
- He added 2 for 26 from six overs, and he now tops both the One-Day Cup (338 runs at 84.50 with three hundreds) and Sheffield Shield (341 at 85.25) scoring charts.
- His surge comes after a mid-year Test axing, with five centuries in eight domestic innings reinforcing widespread expectations of a recall for the Ashes.
- Labuschagne said he has not been told whether he would open or bat No.3, while contenders Matt Renshaw and Jake Weatherald are in the mix to partner Usman Khawaja.
- Sam Konstas made 47 in the loss and drew Labuschagne's public backing as a future Australia player, as reports suggest Pat Cummins could miss the first Test with Steve Smith to captain and England quicks Mark Wood and Jofra Archer arrived in Perth to prepare.