Ashes tracker: Labuschagne shines as Konstas stumbles

Marnus Labuschagne would no doubt have wanted the win for Queensland, but from a personal point of view the match could not have gone much better as he struck a fluent 160 (albeit given lives on 61 and 98) which pushed him closer to a Test recall. The selectors have been on record that they are keen to get Labuschagne back in the side, so they may not need much more convincing after this hundred followed his one-day century a couple of weeks ago. Where he bats, though, would likely remain a question.

"I felt good out there," Labuschagne said. "It felt like I was reading the conditions well. I took the game on at certain times. I feel like I've really stripped it back and my focus is just scoring runs - it's not really too technical...just what I need out there to score runs."

There is a slight oddity in talking up a Labuschagne recall at the same time he lost his ODI spot. His returns in that format had also slipped since a strong run in 2023-24 but the benefit of not facing India is that he will now have two more Shield outings before the Test squad is selected. It might be best for all concerned to focus on Labuschagne the Test batter, at least for this season.

On the flip side, Matt Renshaw threw out his early-season reminder with a robust hundred a couple of days before he was confirmed for a return to Australia's white-ball set-up. It means he will miss at least one round of Shield and probably remains significantly back in the pecking order - for now.

Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja, whose age and recent returns are in the spotlight although he has already been guaranteed his spot for Perth, made an encouraging start with a neat 69. After an early drop on the first day, he also held a couple of excellent catches on the fourth.

That drop from Khawaja offered Jake Weatherald an early life on the opening day. Weatherald ended the match with twin half-centuries, a far-from-shabby return for someone certainly in the Ashes mix but perhaps a missed opportunity to bang the door down on a flat surface, especially when he flicked to midwicket in the second innings.

One the bowling front, this game did not have many names in the way of immediate national significance but Michael Neser's five wickets - and considerable workload - suggests he would be ready to go should the selectors need reinforcements. It will be interesting to watch whether his workload is managed over the next few weeks.

All eyes in Adelaide were on Scott Boland, Marcus Harris, and to a lesser degree Nathan McSweeney and Campbell Kellaway. But 19-year-old Ollie Peake stole the show with a brilliant 70 not out in the fourth innings to guide Victoria home in a tricky chase. Peake won't be considered for this Ashes series and Australia doesn't need another middle-order player at the moment but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could push for the 2027 Ashes depending on how he progresses and where Australia's batting is at.

Harris showed why he is still in the selectors thinking as a possible Ashes opener with a patient 61 in the first innings batting in a new role at No.3. Entering at first drop for Victoria won't preclude him from being considered as an opener based on McSweeney's elevation from being South Australia's No.3 to Test opener last summer. Harris will kick himself he didn't make a bigger score in the first innings, cut short by a lazy piece of running and a sharp direct hit. He then nicked a good one from Jordan Buckingham from around the wicket early in the second innings.

Boland was excellent in both innings despite picking up only three wickets. He bowled without luck at times and was shown immense respect by South Australia's batters. He still had the skill to knock over Henry Hunt and Jake Lehmann on the second morning after both had made day one centuries. Boland's second innings figures of 1 for 16 from 12 overs played a huge part in stifling South Australia's push to set a bigger total for Victoria to chase. There's a strong chance Boland could be rested from Victoria's next match against New South Wales after a total load of 35 overs as CA manage him carefully in the lead-up to the Ashes.

McSweeney had a game to forget coming back from a decent Australia A tour of India. Scores of 0 and 6 can happen to a No.3 but facing 21 and 23 balls across those two innings without being able to get off strike won't help his case to push for Ashes selection. Kellaway showed signs in the second innings with a handy 40 that featured some good rotation given he only struck one boundary. But he is long way back in the queue of openers pushing for Ashes selection.

Peter Handscomb issued a reminder of his class with a first innings century. He remains one of the best domestic batters year in year out but it is highly unlikely he will be considered for the Ashes even if injuries were to occur to Australia's middle-order.

Sam Konstas' scores of 4 and 14 were the headline but New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd believes the difficulty of the WACA surface needs to be considered when judging against other scores around the country. Only one batter in the game passed 43, and that was NSW No.7 Will Salzmann, while highest score by a top four batter on either team was 36 and only three top four batters passed 20 across four innings. Shipperd said he had already spoken to the national selectors about the pitch.

"They're well aware of my thoughts around the particular wicket and just to be mindful of how tough it was out there," Shipperd said post-match.

"It didn't do any of the top-order batters favours. The contest between the bat and ball was skewed in the bowlers' favour and both bowling teams did their job.

"It's a pretty hard way for the batting group on both sides to start the season. I guess you look over to the eastern states and see runs galore being scored.

"There was a memo that went out last year about finding that balance. It's a delicate balance. This probably just lent slightly the wrong way and made it difficult for batters on both teams, particularly with the new ball."

Cameron Green also found life tough with the bat, returning scores of 19 and 24, with his second innings cut short by a stunning return catch from Charlie Stobo. Green made a positive return to the bowling crease bowling four overs in the first innings and claiming a wicket. But he was unable to bowl any more as CA did not want him bowling on consecutive days and WA did not bat long enough in their first innings to allow for a full day's rest in between his bowling stints.

Nathan Lyon took a wicket in each innings on a WACA surface that also offered plenty of spin and bounce as well as sideways movement for the quicks. Corey Rocchiccioli took four wickets for the game to continue to build his case to be the Test side's first reserve spinner behind Lyon in Australian conditions at least.

Like Konstas, Ashes long shots Cameron Bancroft and Kurtis Patterson fell cheaply in both innings on the tricky batting track.