ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Tim Paine of Australia, Pat Cummins of Australia, Steve Smith of Australia and Marnus Labuschagne of Australia after the signing of the national anthem during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 17, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Marnus Labuschagne's enthusiastic tendencies have been raised as a real reason as to why the Queenslander was looked over for a leadership role in the Australian camp this summer.
The view that the 27-year-old's over-the-top appeals and ever-present idiosyncrasies had seen him snubbed were also added to the belief that head coach Justin Langer would prefer Labuschange just to focus on his batting ahead of the Ashes.
Each of these prospective notions were raised by veteran Courier Mail scribe Robert Craddock as grounds for why the in-form batter failed to even secure an interview for the roles now filled by Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
Still, despite averaging 60 at international level when facing the red ball, Labuschange remained unfazed about being overlooked.
“I wasn’t disappointed,” he was quoted by Fox Sports.
“There’s two very good leaders and two very good candidates and I think they’re [Cummins and Smith] the right people for the job right now.
“My job right now is to concentrate on scoring consistently for Australia and I’m happy for that to be my role for now.”
Labuschagne will enter the first Test fixtured for his home deck of the Gabba with a more than healthy swathe of Sheffield Shield runs under his belt.
The South African-born barometer has clubbed 455-runs - including two tonnes - from his nine innings for the Bulls so far this summer and will look to add to his five Test centuries and 10 half-tonnes from just 31 digs when the series against England commences this Wednesday.