Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the four-Test series at home to New Zealand. The squad has not yet been announced for a contest beginning in Perth on December 9, but chair of selectors George Bailey has revealed Labuschagne will not be selected after averaging only 23.66 in 10 Tests since returning for last winter's Ashes. The 32-year-old mustered just 131 runs across three Tests at an average of 21.83 during Australia's recent 2-1 series defeat in South Africa and has gone 49 innings without a Test century, stretching back to the 2023 Ashes series in England.
Bailey told reporters that Labuschagne needs space and cleared up conjecture about his place in the team. Labuschagne, who struck 10 centuries in his first 30 Tests and was once ranked No 1 in the ICC batting rankings, was briefly dropped for last year's tour of the West Indies. He forced his way back in for the 2025-26 Ashes after five hundreds in 10 innings for Queensland.
Bailey expects the right-hander to perform at first-class level again. After playing New Zealand in Perth, Australia will face the Black Caps in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney before taking on India away in five Tests from January 21. The team's next assignment is a series of white-ball games at home to England, with the three-match ODI leg starting in Perth on Friday ahead of five T20s from November 21.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing