Why Labuschagne was axed for Test series against New Zealand

Marnus Labuschagne’s Test career is not necessarily over, according to chairman of selectors George Bailey, as Steve Smith prepares to make his return from injury in a Sheffield Shield match for NSW later this month.

On a day when Usman Khawaja’s controversial new claims about Sandpapergate continued to bubble away, Bailey shifted attention from the issue dividing Australian cricket by confirming Labuschagne would be axed for next month’s first Test against New Zealand in Perth.

Labuschagne, the 32-year-old veteran of 68 Tests, is once again on the outer with selectors after an underwhelming tour of South Africa, with Bailey confirming he would play no part in the four-Test series beginning on December 9.

With Labuschagne set to take the field for Queensland against Tasmania in the next round of the Sheffield Shield, starting on Wednesday, Bailey felt it was unfair for “conjecture to hang over his head” about whether he would retain his spot at No.3.

The decision provides clarity for Labuschagne and allows Australia’s selectors to turn their attention to the upcoming round of Shield matches before naming an expected 14-man squad to face New Zealand.

Labuschagne managed 131 runs from six innings at an average of 21.8 during Australia’s recent Test series against South Africa.

The Queenslander has not averaged more than 35 in a calendar year since 2022 and has not scored a Test century since the 2023 Ashes in England. His Test average has come down from above 60 in late 2022 to 42.64.

Labuschagne was dropped for Australia’s Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean last year but piled on the runs in domestic cricket to force his way back into the side.

“There has been a lot of speculation around his place in the team. I think this gives him a little bit of space and clears up a bit of conjecture,” Bailey said.

“It’s still possible [for him to get back in the team], absolutely. I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best. That performance hasn’t been there. I think he’s missed some opportunities. [There were] some promising starts in Darwin and even in South Africa as well.

“I don’t think we’ve ever ruled anyone out permanently to ever not be selected again.

“He’s always been an incredible performer at first-class level, so I expect that to be the case. The plan is just to go back and focus on playing as well as you can for Queensland for a period of time.

“He knows that the fundamental nature of being a batter in the top six is to score runs and that just hasn’t happened.”

Bailey was also reluctant to characterise the upcoming round of Sheffield Shield matches, which includes NSW hosting South Australia in Sydney and Victoria taking on Western Australia, as a selection “bat-off”.

Nathan Lyon (NSW) is the only player from Australia’s third Test loss against South Africa who is in contention for the New Zealand series that will feature in this week’s Shield round. Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Matt Kuhnemann and Beau Webster will also turn out for their respective states.

The following round is expected to feature Smith, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis, giving them valuable red-ball preparation before the New Zealand series.

Smith was ruled out of Australia’s third and deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town after failing to overcome a neck injury sustained during the second Test in Gqeberha. Scans revealed damage to a cervical facet joint in his neck, restricting his range of movement.

Bailey said Smith would return to Australia later this week and insisted he had no indication from the champion batsman that retirement was on the horizon.

“He’s had some specialist appointments there and has been some progress in terms of getting to the root of what was causing him trouble in South Africa,” Bailey said.

“I certainly haven’t had any discussions with him to suggest otherwise. He’s an absolutely quality player and we are a better team with him in it and hopefully that continues. I still can see him achieving a hell of a lot more.”

One player still hoping to achieve plenty in Test cricket is NSW skipper Nic Maddinson, who opened up on Monday about his omission for the third Test after managing just 56 runs across four innings, including two ducks, in his return to the Australian side.

“I probably would have dropped myself, to be fair,” Maddinson said. “I just thought [Josh] Inglis coming in, a couple of guys coming back from injury and [Cameron] Green available made it a pretty easy decision. When you don’t score the runs, you make it easier.

“A week before, if you’d said, ‘You’re playing Test cricket next week, where do you want to bat?’ I probably would have chosen to open.

“But [opening] wasn’t anything that was too daunting. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity and I’m just disappointed I couldn’t make the most of it. I’m happy to have had it.”

Meanwhile, Scott Boland faces a fight to reclaim his spot in the XI for the series opener against the Black Caps, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all expected to be fit.

The metronomic quick managed just the one Test in South Africa, when he was the best of the Australian bowlers in the second Test in Gqeberha, claiming 5-81. That Boland was axed for the series decider was another controversial decision by the national selectors.

“Obviously, I want to play every game, but I’m behind three of the best fast bowlers Australia’s ever had. So I’m pretty comfortable in that spot,” Boland said.

“As I said, I want to play every game for Australia … I know that at 37, I’m not going to be around forever. But I know I can come into a game and try to impact straight away.

“And I know Pat [Cummins] chucks me the ball pretty much pretty early on. So it’s nice having the confidence from him in that regard as well.”

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