By stumps on day two at Gladys Elphick Park the Bulls had moved to 6-331, pushing comfortably ahead of the Tigers' modest first innings total of 250.

Labuschagne was out shortly before stumps for 167 with Jimmy Peirson (20) and Michael Neser (5) the not out batsmen.

Prolific Test No.3 Labuschagne was dropped three times before reaching 40, twice in consecutive balls courtesy of tough chances to Beau Webster in the slips and Ben McDermott at midwicket in the 31st over.

Webster should really have had his man in the 35th over however, spilling a regulation opportunity off the bowling off Nathan Ellis.

It was all the assistance a man with a Test average of 63 needed, the 26 year-old going on to lift what had been a laborious run rate in his 230-ball (17 fours, 2 sixes) knock.

"I thought I was quite scratchy to about 30, to about lunch. I didn't feel like I was batting that well. But after lunch I felt like it came together a little bit more, I got more rhythm and a bit more feel out there," Labuschagne said.

Seen in the nets during the lunch break, he later explained that he just wanted to practice using a lighter bat, admitting that was a step beyond - even for someone with his renowned peculiar habits.

"Just because every time I tried to drive it, I'd just nick it," he said. "I'm probably not a very normal person - I do some strange things."

Bryce Street (54) had offered steady support for Labuschagne until he holed out in the deep to Ellis off the bowling of Riley Meredith (1-96).

Usman Khawaja followed shortly thereafter, lbw to Ellis (2-74) for four.

The left-hander, looking to again impress national selectors, lingered at the crease in bewilderment with the ball seemingly destined to miss leg stump.

Another former Test batsman, Matthew Renshaw, enjoyed a more productive day, compiling a neat 48 before being run out to a direct hit by Webster, though that call also looked marginal.

There was further late consolation for Webster, the part-time medium-pacer eventually bowling Labuschagne with a yorker but by then the damage had been done.

Earlier, ex-Test paceman Peter Siddle claimed his first Shield wicket for Tasmania.

The former Victorian bowled Australian opener Joe Burns (7) and finished the day with 1-57 off 26 overs.

Australian Associated Press