Australia selectors make call to axe Marnus Labuschagne for next Test series

Labuschagne has averaged just 23.66 with bat from his last ten Test matches, and has not scored a century in the longest format since 2023.

The 32-year-old did not enjoy good enough contributions in the most recent Test series in South Africa, having not reached 40 in the first two Tests before scoring 0 and 4 in teh final encounter in Cape Town as Australia lost the series 2-1.

While the squad for the series against New Zealand series has not yet been finalised, Bailey said they wanted to give Labuschagne clarity as he returns to domestic duty with Queensland.

"At this stage we won't be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series," Bailey told reporters.

"There's been a lot of speculation around his place in the team, and so I think this gives him a little bit of space and clears up a bit of conjecture as we work through the next round of Shield cricket."

Bailey did however insist that the incumbent number 3 can still fight his way back into the Test side with good form in domestic cricket, with tours to India and England ahead next year.

Since the middle of 2023, Labuschagne's regression has been steep, evidenced by a batting average that has plummeted from 60.82 after 30 Tests to 42.64 after 68.

Bailey added: "I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best. But that performance hasn't been there. I think he's missed some opportunities, some promising starts in Darwin and even in South Africa as well, to go on and get a big score that we'd like and would have liked for some time, and that just hasn't happened.

"But I don't think we've ever ruled anyone out permanently ... and that's no different in this case."