- By Namrata Vijay
- Fri, 05 Dec 2025 02:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ashes 2025: Australia's star batter Marnus Labuschagne has become the first cricketer to achieve the milestone of scoring 1000 runs in day/night Test matches. It took him 16 innings to achieve this feat, where he had smashed four hundreds and as many half-centuries at an average of 66 in the last six years since 2019.
Labuschagne firmly anchors Australia's innings
He came into bat at the No.3 position and was looking in sublime form from the beginning. Post Travis Head's wicket, he helped the hosts bounce back and stitched a brilliant partnership with Jake Weatherald.
After achieving the milestone of scoring 1000 runs, Labuschagne smashed another fifty, which was his 25th in this format and his second consecutive half-century, as he had also scored one in the series opener.
Most runs in Day-Night Tests
1003* - Marnus Labuschagne (16 inns)
827* - Steve Smith (25 inns)
753 - David Warner (17 inns)
752 - Travis Head (16 inns)
Ben Stokes had won the toss and chose to bat first. Mitchell Starc then took a wicket in the first over itself. The hosts were reeling at 5/2, and then Joe Root and Zak Crawley helped them bounce back by building a partnership of 117 runs.
Post Crawley's wicket, the visitors once again suffered a batting collapse. Starc maintained his sublime form as he registered figures of 6/75, and it was his sixth five-for in this format. As the team suffered a collapse, Root held his innings from one end as he scored a brilliant knock of 138 runs, which was also his 40th Test ton.
Root was assisted well by Jofra Archer, who had scored a gritty knock of 38 runs. They gave the host bowlers a hard time by building a partnership of 61 runs for the 10th wicket. Labuschagne broke this partnership by taking a stunning catch and helped the team skittle the visitors out at 334.
The host began the chase on a good note as they were 175/2 till drinks with Labuschagne out in the middle.