Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne is taking throwdowns with a taped tennis ball from his friend while his pet dog is acting as a wicketkeeper to make sure the run-machine loses none of his batting skills during the lockdown period.

"I have for the last couple of days, just because I've missed it," Labuschagne told Melbourne's SEN Radio on Thursday when asked about his return to batting after Australia's ODI series against New Zealand was called off last month.