Labuschagne admits 'greed for runs' hurt him, backs reset ahead of Bangladesh Tests
Synopsis
Marnus Labuschagne has gone 22 Tests without a century since the 2023 Ashes — and he now admits that anxiety itself became the problem, turning him 'greedy' at the crease. An unprecedented eight-week break may be the reset that restores one of Test cricket's most technically gifted batters to his best, just as Australia's demanding 12-month cycle begins.
Key Takeaways
Marnus Labuschagne has not scored a Test century in 22 matches , with his last ton coming during the 2023 Ashes .
He admitted that anxiety over poor form made him 'greedy' and caused him to search for runs rather than letting the game come to him.
An eight-week break — the longest of his career — has allowed him to return to his batting fundamentals.
Labuschagne is expected to retain the number three spot for the first Test against Bangladesh , starting in Darwin next Thursday.
Australia face a demanding 12-month international schedule , making this reset period especially significant.
Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne has acknowledged that anxiety over a prolonged run drought turned him 'greedy' at the crease, disrupting his natural game during a difficult stretch in Test cricket. Speaking at Australia's training camp in Brisbane on Thursday, 6 August, the 32-year-old said an unprecedented eight-week break has given him the time and space to rebuild his fundamentals ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.
The Lean Patch in Numbers
Labuschagne, once the world's top-ranked Test batter, has not scored a Test century in his last 22 matches for Australia — a drought stretching back to his hundred during the 2023 Ashes. Despite that extended slump, he is expected to retain his number three batting position for the first Test, which begins in Darwin next Thursday. Australia are set to embark on a demanding 12-month international schedule that makes the Bangladesh series a critical launchpad.
What Labuschagne Said
'When you've missed out a few times, you get a little greedy and start searching for runs instead of letting the game come to you,' Labuschagne told reporters. He explained that short turnarounds between tours had previously denied him the opportunity to address technical issues in a sustained way. 'There's been times where I've tried to get things in order, but I just run out of time to fully commit to those small changes and you revert back to what you've been doing. You never get off that cycle until you have a little gap,' he said.
Why the Eight-Week Break Mattered
Labuschagne described the hiatus as the longest he has had since beginning his international career roughly seven to eight years ago. 'Sitting here now after eight weeks, being able to go back to my fundamentals and spending hours and hours on my game and the simple things — it's something that I definitely needed,' he said. He noted that brief gaps between tours — typically around three weeks — rarely allow players to implement lasting technical corrections, as the pressure to perform quickly overrides any mid-course adjustments.
Confidence Ahead of Bangladesh Series
The former world number one expressed optimism that five weeks of focused preparation with the Australian squad had put him back on track. 'The preparation for the past five weeks here with Australia has been great for that and hopefully we can see the results off the back of all the hard work,' Labuschagne added. Notably, this is the first time in his career that he has had an eight-week window to recalibrate — a luxury that could prove decisive as Australia's Test summer builds toward the marquee series ahead.
Point of View
But the underlying issue is structural: elite Test cricket's relentless schedule leaves batters almost no room to fix deep technical faults under pressure. His 22-match century drought is not just a personal crisis — it exposes how Australia's packed calendar can erode even a former world number one. The real question is whether five weeks of camp work translates when the match pressure returns in Darwin. If it does not, the selectors' patience will face a harder test than Labuschagne's technique ever did.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Marnus Labuschagne gone without a Test century?
Labuschagne has not scored a Test century in his last 22 matches for Australia, with his most recent hundred coming during the 2023 Ashes series. Despite this drought, he is expected to keep his number three batting position for the Bangladesh Test series.
What did Labuschagne mean when he said he became 'greedy'?
Labuschagne explained that after missing out on runs several times, he began actively hunting for runs rather than allowing the innings to develop naturally. This shift in mindset compounded his technical difficulties at the crease.
Why was the eight-week break so important for Labuschagne?
It is the longest break Labuschagne has had in roughly seven to eight years of continuous international cricket. He said shorter gaps of around three weeks between tours never gave him enough time to make lasting technical corrections, causing him to revert to old habits under match pressure.
When and where does Australia's first Test against Bangladesh begin?
The first Test between Australia and Bangladesh is scheduled to start next Thursday in Darwin. It marks the beginning of a demanding 12-month international schedule for Australia.
Was Labuschagne ever the world's top-ranked Test batter?
Yes, Labuschagne reached the number one position in the ICC Test batting rankings. His recent 22-match century drought represents a significant dip from that peak, though he remains in Australia's Test squad at number three.
