Marnus Labuschagne omitted from Australia’s plans for New Zealand Test series

Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of Australia’s plans for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand, chief selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday, November 9. Bailey said Labuschagne will not be considered for selection for the four-match series starting in December following a run of low scores.

Labuschagne’s form has been poor for several months; his last Test century came during the 2023 Ashes in Manchester and he has now gone 49 innings without a hundred. He missed selection for Australia’s away Test series against the West Indies in 2025 but returned to the side after scoring runs in domestic cricket. Those developments have placed his place in the Test team under renewed pressure.

Australia lost their recent three-match Test series in South Africa 2-1, and Labuschagne failed to register a half-century across that tour. In the third Test he scored 0 and 4, results that contributed to the selection setback. Selectors cited his recent returns with the bat as a factor in the decision to leave him out of consideration for the New Zealand series.

"At this stage we won’t be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series," Bailey said. The chief selector framed the exclusion as a short-term omission rather than a final judgment on Labuschagne’s Test career. Bailey pointed to the need for improved scores at domestic level before re-entry would be considered.

"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, underlining the path back to international selection. Labuschagne will return to Queensland and lead the side in upcoming Sheffield Shield matches as he seeks to regain form.

Australia have further important Test commitments next year, including a five-match tour of India in the first quarter of 2027 and an away Ashes series later in the year. Labuschagne could still force his way back into consideration for those tours if he produces the required runs in domestic cricket.

Australia will announce their squad for the New Zealand Test series after the next round of Sheffield Shield matches. Those Sheffield Shield matches begin on November 11.