New Delhi, Oct 19 (NationPress) Marnus Labuschagne expressed his willingness to bat in any position if selected for the Ashes, as Australia is in search of an opening batter to complement Usman Khawaja. He acknowledged feeling like he is “walking a little taller” after restoring his confidence during the Sheffield Shield.

After a challenging three-year stretch at the Test level, the seasoned top-order batter found himself dropped for a series in the West Indies, raising concerns about his potential absence from this summer’s Ashes against England.

However, the 31-year-old has made a strong comeback, achieving four centuries in five innings across three List A matches and two Sheffield Shield games for Queensland.

He has been named in Australia’s squad for the ongoing three-match ODI series against India but did not make the playing XI and was sidelined for the first match in Perth. Speaking to Fox Cricket, Labuschagne affirmed his readiness to bat wherever the selectors and coach decide.

“Wherever the selectors and coach position me, that’s where I’ll be batting. I’ve typically batted at three for Australia throughout my career. So, there’s no more to discuss; I will bat wherever they assign me. The Ashes are always on my mind. I remind myself that if I perform at my best, everything else will fall into place,” he commented.

Since the start of the domestic season on September 17, Labuschagne has recorded impressive scores of 130, 2, 160, 105, 159, and 18. These performances nearly secure his spot for the Ashes, particularly since many of the country’s top-order batters have struggled early in the season.

Labuschagne, who previously lacked form and confidence before his drop, believes his recent scoring run has been immensely beneficial.

“It’s a great feeling when you’re scoring runs; you tend to walk with confidence, and it serves as a reassuring reminder after a tough couple of years that your skills remain intact. Regardless of your past successes, doubts creep in when you face a dry spell,” he elaborated.

“I focused on finding a way to keep scoring runs and aimed to participate in as many games as possible - I played six or seven club matches, followed by two or three practice games, leading up to the season's opening match. I returned to the basics and aimed to let that be my focus,” he added.

Labuschagne has participated in 104 innings across 58 Tests for Australia, amassing 4435 runs, which includes 11 centuries and 23 fifties. He maintains an average of 46.19 and a strike rate of 51.67 in the longest format of cricket.