Australia leaves Labuschagne out of New Zealand Test series
The batter has gone 49 Test innings without a century, but selectors have not ruled out a return for tours of India and England.
Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for Australia’s four-Test series against New Zealand, selectors chairman George Bailey has confirmed. The series opens in Perth on 9 December.
Bailey announced the decision before the squad was finalised, saying the remaining selections would follow the fourth round of Sheffield Shield matches. He said the early call would give Labuschagne space and end speculation about his place.
Labuschagne’s century drought in Tests stretches across 49 innings, back to July 2023. His scores on the South Africa tour were zero, four, 14, 39, 37 and 37. His Test average has fallen to 42.64, after he averaged 59.43 across his opening 33 Tests and scored 10 centuries.
The 32-year-old will resume captaining Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. He previously regained his place for the home Ashes after making two Shield centuries for Queensland, having been left out for the West Indies tour.
Bailey said a comeback for the tours of India and England remained possible. He said Labuschagne understood that scoring runs was the central requirement for a top-six batter, and his recent performances had not met that standard.
