Marnus Labuschagne's comeback undeniable; but is opening really his calling in Ashes 2025?

Will Marnus Labuschagne open in Ashes? [Source: @heraldsunsport/X.com]

Just a few months ago, Marnus Labuschagne found himself on the outside looking in. Dropped from the Australian Test squad after a lean run of scores, the 31-year-old admitted he needed the setback.

Fast forward to November 2025, and Labuschagne is once again the man in form with five centuries in his last eight innings across domestic formats. Runs are flowing like the old days when he first broke into stardom during the 2019 Ashes. 

But as the selectors prepare to name the Ashes 2025 squad, one question hangs in the air - can Marnus Labuschagne really open the batting?

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Marnus Labuschagne has no stats to prove himself as an opener

(Table: Marnus Labuschagne's stats as opener and while batting at no. 3 in Tests)

Australia’s biggest headache heading into the Ashes isn’t their middle order but the gap at the top. With David Warner retired and no clear successor nailed down, the selectors are considering reshuffling their core. 

Labuschagne, given his experience, appetite for long innings, and recent purple patch, has suddenly emerged as a wildcard option to open alongside Usman Khawaja.

Across 58 Tests, Labuschagne has scored 4435 runs at an average of 46.19. However, those numbers have almost entirely come from the safety of the No. 3 spot, a position tailor-made for his temperament. 

The difference between No. 3 and the opener might seem small on paper, but in reality, it's an entirely different battlefield. 

Labuschagne has only opened once in Test cricket, against South Africa in the WTC 2025 final. He managed just 22 and 17. In First-Class cricket, he has scored two centuries.

In domestic cricket, his role has been consistent, which is to be the stabiliser after the storm, not the one facing the first wave of it.

The technical challenge is clear. Marnus Labuschagne thrives once the shine is off the ball; his compact defence and judgement outside off stump make him hard to dismiss when set. 

But early on, against a moving Kookaburra ball in Australian conditions, those same tendencies could be exposed. His exaggerated trigger movements and eagerness to press forward, so effective against spin or old-ball seamers, might play into the hands of England's swing specialists.

The case for his promotion

That said, few players adjust better than Marnus Labuschagne. He's meticulous, obsessive, and fiercely competitive. His success in 2019 came after hours of tweaking his stance and backlift to counter movement. In this rich vein of form, confidence could be his biggest ally.

The argument for pushing him up is built on rhythm and leadership; he's batting beautifully, seeing the ball early, and hungry to reclaim his place in the Test XI. 

More importantly, Australia's pool of openers hasn't delivered consistent results. Sam Konstas has remained inconsistent, and the Steve Smith experiment also failed. Labuschagne's inclusion could bring stability and experience to a fragile top order. 

Verdict: Tempting, but risky

There’s no doubt that Marnus Labuschagne’s form demands inclusion. His rediscovery of touch, built on five tons in eight innings, is the kind of dominance that can't be ignored. 

But as an opener in the Ashes? That's a leap of faith Australia might want to think twice about. Labuschagne's genius lies in absorbing pressure, not immediately confronting it. At No. 3, he's the perfect bridge between the chaos of the new ball and the grind of the middle order. Asking him to open could unsettle both him and the team's balance.

Still, if there's one thing Marnus Labuschagne has shown time and again, it's his ability to evolve. Maybe, just maybe, this next challenge, facing the new ball in an Ashes summer, could be the final chapter in his remarkable comeback story.

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