Struggling batter Marnus Labuschagne has been axed from Australia’s one-day international squad.
Labuschagne was a notable omission from a 17-player list released on Tuesday.
Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short of Australia. nna\smirzabegian
The squad will play white-ball series in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month.
Labuschagne is also in danger of losing his spot in the Test side when it next plays in South Africa following the ODI series.
Chief selector George Bailey will front media later on Tuesday to explain the Labuschagne situation.
The 32-year-old averages 33.55 from 72 ODI matches, but has registered just one half century in his last 16 innings and hasn’t scored a century in three years.
Labuschagne hasn’t scored a Test century in 43 innings and has been clinging to his spot in the batting order amid intense scrutiny and criticism.
Against Bangladesh last month he registered scores of 1, 31 and 4, and legendary former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting is among those calling for him to be dropped before the first Test against South Africa on October 9.
“I think it is inevitable that change is made going to South Africa… Labuschagne’s spot in the side is almost untenable, so they have to look at someone at No.3,” Ponting told Sky Sports this week.
Australia kicks off its white ball tour with an ODI against Zimbabwe on September 15. It plays three ODIs against Zimbabwe and then three against South Africa, concluding on September 30.
Labuschagne and spin bowler Matthew Kuhnemann headline the five players axed from the squad, while Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood all return. Fast bowling veterans Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will skip the Zimbabwe games but return for the South Africa ones.
Aussie 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