Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Marnus Labuschagne, once Australia’s pride in Test cricket, has been dropped from the national team. Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed on Monday, November 9, that the top-order batter will not be considered for the team’s upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand, beginning December 9 in Perth.
The writing had been on the wall for Labuschagne, who was once synonymous with Steve Smith for his prolific run-scoring in the longest format. The 32-year-old has not scored a Test century since the 2023 Ashes, and his struggles have continued over the last few years. His poor returns in Australia’s recent series defeat against South Africa appear to have finally cost him his place.
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Labuschagne managed scores of zero and four in the final Test against South Africa in Cape Town, having failed to cross 40 in the first two matches. It extended his century-less run to 49 innings, a remarkable decline for a batter who was once among the most prolific in the format.
“At this stage we won’t be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series,” Bailey told reporters, confirming the decision.
The selectors have also attempted to give Labuschagne clarity over his immediate future, with Bailey saying the decision would allow the batter to focus on domestic cricket without the uncertainty surrounding his place in the side.
Labuschagne’s numbers underline the extent of his decline. Since being dropped for Australia’s three-Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean in 2025, he has averaged just 23.66 across 10 Tests, with two half-centuries in 19 innings.
His struggles, however, began well before that omission. Labuschagne has not averaged 40 in a calendar year since 2022, when he was still operating at the peak of his powers. Between November 2019 and December 2022, he scored 10 centuries in 36 innings, establishing himself as one of the most dependable batters in world cricket.
That remarkable run also took him to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings. Australia’s middle order, with Labuschagne and Smith operating together, became one of the most formidable combinations in the format.
But the numbers have since taken a sharp turn. His career average, which stood at 60.82 after 30 Tests, has fallen to 42.64 after 68 matches. The inability to convert promising starts into substantial scores has been a recurring problem, including during Australia’s recent outings in Darwin and South Africa.
Bailey, however, insisted that the door had not been permanently shut on the Queensland batter and said a return to the Test side remained possible.
“It’s still possible, absolutely. And I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best. But that performance hasn’t been there,” Bailey said.
“I think he’s missed some opportunities, some promising starts in Darwin and even in South Africa as well, to go on and get a big score that we’d like and would have liked for some time, and that just hasn’t happened.”
Labuschagne will now return to Queensland and captain the side in the Sheffield Shield, with the next round of the domestic competition beginning on Wednesday. Bailey said selectors would use those matches to assess their options before finalising Australia’s squad for the New Zealand series.
Steve Smith’s return is also expected to be an important part of Australia’s plans after he missed the series decider in Cape Town with a neck injury.
Bailey added that several players remained in contention for the vacant batting positions, with the selectors set to make their final decisions after the next round of Sheffield Shield matches.
For Labuschagne, the immediate task is to rediscover the consistency that once made him one of the cornerstones of Australia’s Test batting. With a demanding Test schedule ahead, the selectors have made it clear that reputation alone will not be enough to secure his place.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
