Things are a bit different when Marnus Labuschagne arrived in Kent aged 19 in 2014 to play in the Kent Premier League.
The Australian number three is now ranked as the best Test batsman in the world, so there was certainly a sense of reflection at Beckenham, where Australia train, on Friday morning as the 28-year-old spoke to the press.
“I loved playing for Sandwich Town. It was a great experience and looking back now, it was probably the experience that put me on the right path to start my first-class career,” Labuschagne recalled.
A few months later, Labuschagne would make his first class debut for Queensland. Its stock has since exploded.
But for the here and now and what about Stuart Broad’s comments to Mail Sport that Australia’s win in the 2021-22 Ashes was ‘void’, given the COVID-19 restrictions imposed on the players. Much like teammates Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, Labuschagne rejected that hold.
Marnus Labuschagne has come a long way since playing in the Kent Premier League
Labuschagne will be one of Australia’s leading men as they aim for glory in The Ashes
Labuschagne rejected Stuart Broad’s claim Australia’s 2021-22 Ashes win was a draw
Broad said the series was empty in his mind due to Covid restrictions on players
“It was a series and Australia, we dominated that series,” he insisted.
“Take it all and our job is to perform on the pitch. No matter the external circumstances. And we did it,” added Labuschagne.
It was a series where only Travis Head scored more points than him, with his 335 points leading Australia to a dominating 4-0 series win.
And there is no doubt that Labuschagne will be one of Australia’s leading men as they seek their first Ashes Series victory on these shores since 2001.
Unlike most of the squad, who trickled in last week, Labuschagne has been in the UK since April playing county cricket – something he has done every season for the past five years.
Labuschagne said he’s hungrier than ever to score points ahead of the series
With 502 runs at an average of 71.71 for Glamorgan on the National Circuit this season, the right-hander insists he is ready for the six Tests ahead, including the Test World Championship final at The Oval against India, followed by the Ashes in the space of seven and a half weeks.
“Back-to-back matches really help, playing a lot of (county) cricket with little break in between,” Labuschagne said.
“In Australia we could have a week and a half or even more between games. You go back to training and maybe you got out a certain way and you start tinkering.
“You come to England, you know you play Thursday to Sunday for seven weeks in a row. If you miss a game, you stick to the same process,” Labuschagne said.
That obsession with scoring points is still there. As well as a feeling of incompleteness.
“Mentally, I’m hungrier than ever to score points,” insisted Labuschagne.
“I really feel like we let slip one last time that we were here.”
Although Australia retained the ballot box, they allowed England to draw the series 2-2 in the fifth Test at the Oval.
Labuschagne admits that in 2019 Australia didn’t have as much stability with their selection
The backdrop to this series from an Australian perspective was filled with questions about the return of David Warner and Steve Smith from their ball tampering bans. Things are much more settled this time around,
“In 2019 we probably weren’t as determined in the team. There wasn’t a lot of stability and we played three or four different bowling attacks in the series. Now there’s a lot more clarity , which creates consistency,” Labuschagne said.
On a more personal note, he’s now one of the main cast rather than someone trying to find a way in.
“I wasn’t in the mix at all back then, but it’s definitely a different feeling by then, for me.” he said.
Since entering the 2019 Ashes as a replacement for Smith with a concussion, Labuschagne has gone from strength to strength.
Archer admits Australia will benefit from the absence of injured Englishman Jofra Archer
Labuschagne has praised Ollie Robinson and is wary of the threat he poses to Australia
At the time, he made four successive half-centuries after replacing Smith in the second Test at Lord’s and he admits the absence of Jofra Archer, albeit in undesirable circumstances, is a bonus for Pat’s side Cummins.
After all, it was a 92 mph from Archer that pinned Labuschagne to the ground with his first pitch at Lord’s.
“Any team without Archer isn’t as strong, so that’s obviously an advantage,” admitted Labuschagne.
But he knows England have other options.
“The reality is that I’ve played Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts this year, so playing against all those guys and knowing what they’re playing – it’s just about preparing well. Obviously Jimmy, Broady and Ollie Rob will be back on this side.
“He is (from Robinson) very skilful. He’s a top class bowler and competing against him was a lot of fun. It’s going to be a great battle in the Ashes.
But first for Labuschagne and co.
The little affair of the World Test Championship final against India.
And then let the battle begin.
