Australia drop Labuschagne for Zimbabwe and South Africa ODIs

Marnus Labuschagne’s place in Australia’s Test team is now under pressure after selectors left him out of the one-day squad for tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Labuschagne, a key member of Australia’s 2023 World Cup-winning side, paid for poor recent form. Australia will play three ODIs in Zimbabwe and three in South Africa this month, followed by a three-Test series against South Africa in October. The Test squad will be announced later.

The selections also signal a generational shift. Nineteen-year-old batting prospect Ollie Peake joins 22-year-old all-rounder Joel Davies and 23-year-old Cooper Connolly in the 17-player touring party. Chief selector George Bailey described the six-match series as an important lead-in to next year’s World Cup, which will be held in the same countries.

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This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year's World Cup, being played in the same countries, for the group.

Mitch Marsh, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood return after missing earlier ODI series in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will play only the three matches in South Africa as Australia manages their workloads. Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett and Billy Stanlake provide further pace options, while Adam Zampa is the only specialist spinner after Matthew Kuhnemann’s omission.

Australia also named an Australia A squad for a tour of India later this month. It will play two four-day matches and three one-dayers against India A. With Labuschagne’s Test position uncertain, Peter Handscomb and Nathan McSweeney will seek to strengthen their claims before Australia’s five-Test tour of India in January and February.

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For Ollie and Joel, who we rate very highly, it's another fantastic opportunity and a further chance for them to continue their exposure and growth in the Australian team.