By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Cricket Australia.
Marnus Labuschagne’s place in Australia’s one day plans has finally disappeared.
The 32-year-old has been left out of a strong squad for six ODIs against Zimbabwe and South Africa, a significant decision with next year’s World Cup to be played in the same region.
Labuschagne was one of Australia’s key players in their 2023 World Cup triumph, including a crucial contribution in the final against India. He has since struggled for runs, averaging 21.87 across his last 18 ODI innings.
His omission is particularly striking because he has missed only five of Australia’s last 56 ODIs.
Australia are now looking beyond him, with Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake and Joel Davies among the players given opportunities. Captain Mitch Marsh and Travis Head also return after missing the recent series in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Selection chief George Bailey said Labuschagne had simply been squeezed out by the changing make up of the side. “He’s played some really important one day cricket for us,” Bailey said. “At his best that looks a certain way, but the way that squad and team is structuring up, there just wasn’t space for him.”
The decision leaves Australia with a different problem. Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have retired from ODI cricket, while Marcus Stoinis has also departed the set up. Labuschagne had been viewed as a possible answer to the middle order gap.
Australia are now looking for flexibility rather than a direct replacement. “One of the great advantages of the way this one day group has been evolving is that ability for players to morph,” Bailey said.
The African tour will provide an important test of that theory.
Australia have lost five of their last six bilateral ODI series, although several of those campaigns were played without their strongest players. This time the squad has considerably more experience.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will join the team for the South African leg, alongside Josh Hazlewood. Marsh will lead in Zimbabwe, while Cummins is expected to take over again in South Africa, although he won’t play every match.
Cummins has played only two ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, but Bailey expects him to remain Australia’s captain when they defend the title next year. “Mitch has done it a hell of a lot, given Pat hasn’t played much one day cricket,” Bailey said.
The six matches in Zimbabwe and South Africa will therefore be about more than results. They are Australia’s most important preparation before the 2027 World Cup, with several players competing for roles in a batting order that has changed considerably since Ahmedabad.
Bailey knows those roles won’t necessarily be settled immediately. “As you get closer, you certainly want to be quite clear around the roles that players will have,” he said. “But what we have seen, and certainly even harking back to the last World Cup, is that that can come together quite late.”
For Labuschagne, however, the waiting game is now likely to be focused on red ball cricket.
Australia are due to name their Test squad next week for the series against South Africa. Selectors have previously insisted that ODI form won’t determine Test selection.
But after losing his place in one format, Labuschagne will be watching closely to see whether the same questions are now being asked about the other.
Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins (SA only), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (SA only), Adam Zampa.