Adapting to English conditions hasn’t always been easy for Australia’s batmen on wickets that traditionally offer seam movement,as figures from the 2019 tour attest.

Labuschagne was a strong second to Smith with 353 runs at an average of 50 after creating history as the first concussion sub in Test cricket,replacing Smith at Lord’s after he suffered a blow to the neck off Archer’s bowling.

It came as no surprise to Labuschagne that Archer had been ruled out given his injury history,particularly his troublesome right elbow,which recently required more surgery.

“I never really considered that he was going to play,with his injuries,” said Labuschagne. “It’s a massive blow from an England perspective. Jofra Archer is a phenomenal player.

“Everyone knows is that he can bowl fast,but I think what doesn’t get talked enough about as is his actual skill and his ability to swing and seam the ball.”

After Smith and Labuschagne,the only other Australian batsman with an average north of 30 in 2019 was Matthew Wade with 33.7,including centuries in the first and last Tests. Smith scored Australia’s other three.

“The main points are going from a really open stance,being a lot more front on in 2019. And his bat face was much more closed,” Labuschagne said. “This summer he was a lot more side on,not having a very big trigger movement at all. And his bat face was a lot more open.

“You can see why his Twenty20 game has gone through the roof with some of those technical changes. It’s certainly helped him with his power and his swing. He absolutely dominated big bash. He took the mickey this summer in the white ball stuff.

“It just shows he can bat both those ways and have ample success. And,knowing Steve,he’s made sure he works out what he feels is the best method to score runs here in England.”

While Smith made just 30 and 3 in his first two games for Sussex since arriving,he returned to form against Glamorgan and was unbeaten on 68 at the conclusion of the first day’s play in Hove. Glamorgan were dismissed for just 123 as Labuschagne fell third ball to Ashes foe Ollie Robinson,who took 4/29.

Prior to that innings,Labuschagne was averaging almost 73 in his fifth season for the Cardiff-based club.

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