Labuschagne to launch into England return for red-ball boost

Marnus Labuschagne is set to make his return for Glamorgan this weekend and hopes this winter's stint with the county side will help propel him back up the Test batting rankings.

Labuschagne returns for his fifth campaign with the Welsh county, named in the 13-player squad to face Middlesex from Friday.

Having missed the first five matches of the county season, the Test No.3 touched down in the UK after enjoying a couple of weeks of rest at home in Brisbane, even joining the Australian T20 squad for a net session at Allan Border Field last week.

His record in the County Championship is exceptional, with an average of 55.52 from 26 matches, which includes eight hundreds.

And for Labuschagne, who has slipped to 12th spot on the ICC's Test batter rankings, is determined to use this campaign to find some much needed red-ball form, albeit with Australia's next Test match not until the summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in November.

"I'm super motivated, as I always have been, I want to be the best, I've said that before," Labuschagne told BCC Sport Wales.

"I want to be the best batter in the world. At the moment, in the last year, I just haven't been at my best and for me it's just finding that rhythm and being able to use Glamorgan to find that rhythm and score runs… and make sure the team is winning games and that's really my objective.

"I love the club and I want to do something great with the club and see that journey progress in to Division One.

"We've been so close for a few years but hopefully this year can be the year we can do it."

Labuschagne's former teammate at Glamorgan Michael Neser has found a new home for the winter with Hampshire signing the Queensland allrounder.

Originally signed up only for the T20 Blast, Neser has been included in the Hawks' 14-player squad to face Nottinghamshire in the County Championship this weekend.

Both of Hampshire's other overseas players, pace bowlers Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas, are also in that squad, and as only two may play at a time, Neser is no guarantee to get a run.

However, the 33-year-old has shown he can dominate the county scene, leaving behind a batting average of 43.26 (with two hundreds) and a bowling average of 23.00 (two five-wicket hauls) from his time at Glamorgan.

Last season's Marsh Sheffield Shield player of the season Beau Webster is line to make his debut in English first-class cricket, named alongside Cameron Bancroft in Gloucestershire's squad to take on Leicestershire.

Webster, like Neser, was signed up for the T20 Blast (which begins on May 30), but given he is in the country, he is eligible for selection in the other formats.

The Tasmania allrounder dominated the 2023-24 Shield, scoring 938 runs, taking 30 wickets and holding 24 catches, and he has potentially two county fixtures before the T20 break to continue to push his claims for higher honours.

Nathan Lyon returns to Lancashire's squad and is set to square off against Ben Stokes as the England captain makes his return for Durham.

Lyon was rested for Lancashire's previous fixture against Nottinghamshire, and the Red Roses will be desperate to get him back as they sit dead last in Division One.

Lyon's season to date has been quite impressive considering the pitches have been largely batter friendly or completely soaked, taking 12 wickets at an average of 26.91.

Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris (both Leicestershire), Matthew Renshaw (Somerset), Peter Siddle (Durham) and Sean Abbott (Surrey) have all been named for their respective sides.

Wes Agar has been rested for Kent, with his team management citing "bowler workload".

Chris Tremain's stint with Northamptonshire has come to an end, having signed a contract for the first four matches only.

Australians in the 2024 County Championship

Durham: Ben Dwarshuis, Ashton Turner (both T20s only)

Essex: Daniel Sams (T20s only)

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne

Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft, Beau Webster

Hampshire: Michael Neser, Ben McDermott (T20s only)

Kent: Wes Agar, Charlie Stobo, Xavier Bartlett (T20s only)

Lancashire: Nathan Lyon, Chris Green (T20s only)

Leicestershire: Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris

Northamptonshire: Chris Tremain (first four matches only)

Somerset: Matthew Renshaw

Surrey: Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson (T20s only)

Sussex: Nathan McAndrew, Daniel Hughes

2024 Division One County Championship standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Drawn D	No results N/R	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Surrey SRY	14	8	2	4	0	0	34	37	231
2 Hampshire HAM	14	6	1	6	1	2	31	33	214
3 Somerset SOM	14	5	3	6	0	0	28	40	196
4 Essex ESS	14	6	3	5	0	12	34	36	194
5 Durham DUR	14	4	4	5	1	1	30	30	171
6 Worcestershire WOR	14	3	4	7	0	0	21	37	162
7 Warwickshire WAR	14	1	4	9	0	0	33	38	159
8 Nottinghamshire NOT	14	2	4	8	0	1	25	35	155
9 Lancashire LAN	14	3	6	5	0	3	15	34	134
10 Kent KEN	14	1	8	5	0	1	12	32	99

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points

2024 Division Two County Championship standings

Team	Matches played M	Wins W	Losses L	Ties T	Drawn D	Deductions Ded.	Batting Bonus Bat	Bowling Bonus Bowl	Total points PTS
1 Sussex SSX	14	8	2	0	4	3	40	40	237
2 Yorkshire YRK	14	5	2	0	7	0	41	40	217
3 Middlesex MSX	14	5	2	0	7	0	28	32	196
4 Northamptonshire NOR	14	2	3	0	9	0	22	35	161
5 Leicestershire LEI	14	1	3	0	10	0	28	31	155
6 Glamorgan GLA	14	2	4	1	7	2	22	30	146
7 Gloucestershire GLO	14	2	5	1	5	2	27	29	142
8 Derbyshire DBY	14	1	6	0	6	1	20	31	122

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

T: Ties

D: Drawn

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points