Backyard contraption is no laughing matter

He is the world's No.1 Test batter but Marnus Labuschagne's quest for self-improvement and sheer appetite for run-scoring remains unquenched, with the batter revealing Steve Smith was the brains behind his unique backyard training contraption.

Labuschagne is preparing for his first Test series abroad since his famous Ashes entrance as Smith's concussion substitute in 2019, with the Aussies heading to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years for a three-Test campaign beginning next month.

With tours to Sri Lanka (later this year) and then in India (likely early 2023), Labuschagne has been preparing for the extra spin and unpredictability of subcontinental pitches by batting on a rubber mat with aluminium and metal sheets taped to it on his back patio.

The 27-year-old has been facing a spinning tennis ball (also adorned with black electrical tape) on the 40kg black mat bought at a hardware store and fine-tuned with the help of Smith, who has struck the equal-most number of centuries in Asia this century (four) by an Australian.

"Originally I had bigger sheets on there," Labuschagne, referring to the impediments that are the source of the rubber mat's volatility, told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.

"Then I was actually on the phone to Steve and he was like 'Nah, nah, nah, that's no good'. You've got to actually cut the pieces up so they're small pieces so you can't really predict at all what the wicket is going to do.

"So I cut them up in smaller pieces, put them around and tried to line it up so that if one hit the aluminium or the metal it would skid on and hit the stumps … then one would spin.

"That's the thoughts behind it, but there's a lot more improvements to make on it, that's for sure."

Labuschagne, now well known for his love of backyard and garage cricket, used similar methods to prepare for his 2019 trip to the United Kingdom, where he played for Glamorgan before being called into Australia's Ashes squad.

That had helped him adjust to the lower bounce and extra seam movement that had confounded Australian batters in four previous unsuccessful attempts to take home the urn.

"One of the big factors when you go to England is that the ball hits the stumps from a shorter length," said Labuschagne, who played a key role in Australia's 2-2 series draw with England in 2019.

"A little bit of a similar thing, going to Pakistan. I thought, 'What's the best way I can recreate spin?' But not just consistent spin because I think that's quite easy to recreate – you get a mat – but inconsistent (spin) so some spin, some slide.

"You can't really predict what it's doing so you've got to come up with a plan and a method. That was the thought behind it.

"It's always fun – you get a few of the boys around and you play in the backyard.

"So it's enjoyable and training."

Labuschagne, who became the ICC's No.1 Test batter during the recent home Ashes and now sits three spots above Smith in fourth, confirmed the mat would not be coming with him to Pakistan.

The right-hander made his Test debut against Pakistan back in 2018 when Smith and David Warner were absent due to their bans from the Cape Town scandal.

His emergence as a world-class middle-order player alongside Smith means he will play an integral role in Australia's bid to become world Test champions for the first time during the second cycle of the program devised by the ICC to give greater context to the longest format.

Pitches for the three Tests in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore may not be spin havens given Pakistan's strong fasting depth, though the Aussies unsure of exactly what to expect.

"It's a really exciting challenge to go over there," said Labuschagne.

"We don't really know what we're going to get, we don't have much intel on the wickets apart from some domestic games and South Africa tour's there (in 2021).

"I think everyone's really looking forward to what it holds."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports