Marnus Labuschagne Dropped from Australia’s Test Squad for New Zealand Series
Australia has confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be selected for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand following a slump in performance.
NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Marnus Labuschagne has been excluded from Australia’s Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand due to a dip in form. The selection chair, George Bailey, announced on Monday that Labuschagne will not be considered for the four-match series starting December 9 in Perth.
Labuschagne’s recent performances have been underwhelming, managing only 131 runs over six innings during the recent series in South Africa. His last Test century dates back to 2023, marking 49 innings without reaching the three-figure mark.
Bailey explained the rationale behind the decision, indicating it was necessary to provide Labuschagne with space amid ongoing speculation about his place in the team. “This gives him a little bit of space and clears up a bit of conjecture,” Bailey stated. He noted that Labuschagne has missed several opportunities to convert promising starts into significant scores.
This marks the second time Labuschagne has been dropped from the Test squad in the past 17 months. After a period where he averaged above 59 and reached the No.1 ranking, his batting average has dropped to 42.64 following a series of disappointing outings.
Bailey did not completely rule out a return for Labuschagne in the future, especially with tours to India and England on the horizon in 2024. “It’s still possible, absolutely,” he said. The upcoming selection for the New Zealand series will follow the next round of Sheffield Shield matches, where Labuschagne will return to captain Queensland as he aims to regain form.
With Labuschagne’s exit confirmed, the focus will shift to determining who will fill his role in the batting order. Bailey mentioned there are several contenders emerging from the domestic cricket scene as Australia prepares for the series against New Zealand.
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