Marnus Labuschagne omitted from Australia's 17-man ODI squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa tour
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia's 17-member ODI squad for six matches across Zimbabwe and South Africa, a selection announced on Tuesday. Australia chief selector George Bailey described the tour as an important rehearsal for next year's World Cup, saying: "I think this is a pretty important tour for us. It's hard to get the link, but Zimbabwe and South Africa, that's where the World Cup will be played late next year," he said.
Labuschagne, a 32-year-old right-hander born in South Africa, has been a regular in Australia's ODI side since 2022 and was a contributor to their 2023 World Cup campaign in India. The selectors cited his recent one-day form as a factor: since the start of 2024 he has averaged 21.87 in ODIs, with an unbeaten 77 his highest score in that span. The omission applies specifically to the ODI format, the selectors said.
Bailey made clear the decision was a format-specific selection call and declined to comment on Labuschagne's future in the Test team, where the batter "is also facing questions after a difficult run of form." He told reporters by video call: "We're separating those formats out, so this was a one-day cricket conversation."
The selectors stressed the limited number of ODI fixtures before the World Cup increases the importance of the upcoming six matches for players competing for roles. Bailey said: "There's not a whole lot of (ODI) games (before that) and the opportunity that's ... awarded to some of those other players to continue building out their roles ... will be really important."
On Labuschagne's omission specifically, Bailey acknowledged his past contributions but said the current construction of the ODI group left no room. "(Marnus), again, he's played some really important one-day cricket for us, 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," Bailey said.
The squad sees the return of several established names who missed the recent ODI series against Bangladesh, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, opener Travis Head and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood recalled. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will join for Australia's three ODIs against South Africa, which follow three matches against Zimbabwe, and the selectors have introduced uncapped players Joel Davies, Oliver Peake and Cooper Connolly as part of selection moves "ahead of next year's World Cup."
Australia ODI squad: Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
The tour opens with Australia's first ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on September 15, and the selectors said the squad for the three-Test series in South Africa in October will be announced later this month. Bailey said of Test selection: "We just we're still working through what that Test squad is going to look like and exactly what we feel we'll need in South Africa,"
