Australia drops Marnus Labuschagne from ODI squad ahead of World Cup and South Africa tour
Consensus Summary
Australia’s cricket selectors have dropped veteran batter Marnus Labuschagne from the ODI squad ahead of a series in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month, with the decision framed as preparation for next year’s ODI World Cup in southern Africa. The move comes despite Labuschagne’s past contributions, including a half-century in the 2023 World Cup final, though his recent form has been inconsistent. The ODI squad will feature young talents like 19-year-old Oliver Peake and 22-year-old Joel Davies, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will lead the South African leg. Meanwhile, Labuschagne remains in contention for the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa, beginning October 9, though his selection is still under review. Australia A teams are also preparing for a September-October tour of India, serving as a trial for next year’s Test tour of India.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Marnus Labuschagne was dropped from Australia’s ODI squad for the Zimbabwe and South Africa series later this month
- Australia’s ODI squad will play three matches in Zimbabwe and three in South Africa during September
- The three-Test tour of South Africa begins in Durban on October 9
- Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will play in the South African leg of the ODI tour
- Oliver Peake (19-year-old) and Joel Davies (22-year-old) were included in the ODI squad
- Australia’s next ODI World Cup will be held in southern Africa (Zimbabwe and South Africa)
- Labuschagne is a 32-year-old batter
- Australia A will tour India in September-October for four-day games
- The year referenced in all articles is 2023
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Labuschagne is also facing a fight to retain his spot in Australia’s XI on the three-Test tour of South Africa
- Australia will play three one-dayers in Zimbabwe and three in South Africa during September before shifting to red-ball games
- Australia A four-day squad includes Brendan Doggett, Peter Handscomb, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, and others
- Australia A one-day squad includes Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw
- Labuschagne was dropped from the ODI squad that toured Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this year
- Labuschagne was ranked by the ICC as the best batter in the world in 2023 but has since averaged under 30 in Tests and is now 38th in rankings
- Labuschagne averaged 25 in last summer’s Ashes and scored 1, 31, and 4 in Tests against Bangladesh
- The Test squad for South Africa will be announced later this month, with the first Test on 9 October
- Labuschagne was on the outer of the Test side ahead of last summer’s Ashes but secured his place via the Sheffield Shield season
- Labuschagne will not have the chance to play a match for Queensland before the Test squad is named
- Labuschagne scored a half-century in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against India in Ahmedabad
- Labuschagne has missed five of Australia’s previous 56 ODIs
- Labuschagne was dropped along with Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, and Liam Scott from the squad that played in Pakistan and Bangladesh in May and June
- Australia are reigning ODI world champions after winning the 2023 final
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and ABC mention Labuschagne was dropped from the squad that played in Pakistan and Bangladesh in May and June, but 7NEWS states he was dropped from the squad that toured Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this year without specifying May and June
- The Guardian states Labuschagne was ranked 38th in the latest ICC rankings, but does not specify the exact date of this ranking, while 7NEWS and ABC do not mention rankings
Source Articles
‘No room’ for under-fire veteran Marnus Labuschagne as Aussies plan for World Cup
The 32-year-old is the most notable omission for the upcoming ODI tour.
Pressure mounts on struggling Marnus Labuschagne after Australia ODI axe falls
Batter dropped from white-ball tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa Chief selector George Bailey insists his Test chances still alive The once-glittering international cricket career of Marnus Labuschagne is on the ropes after he was dropped from the ODI side, even if chair of selectors George Bailey made it clear he remains in contention for the Test side. Labuschagne was dropped from Australia’s white-ball touring party to Zimbabwe and South Africa, a squad named with next year’s ODI World Cup in
Labuschagne dropped as Australia names ODI squad for African series
Australia has named its ODI squad for its back-to-back series in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month, with five players dropped, including World Cup winner Marnus Labuschagne.
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