{"id":957892,"date":"2026-11-09T06:28:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T06:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/957892\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T06:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T06:28:15","slug":"marnus-labuschagne-axed-for-nz-test-series-by-george-bailey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/957892\/","title":{"rendered":"Marnus Labuschagne axed for NZ Test series by George Bailey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia has one final Sheffield Shield round to settle on Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s replacement after the door was closed on him playing the home summer.<\/p>\n

Chief selector George Bailey officially dropped Labuschagne on Monday, wanting to give the struggling No. 3 \u201ca bit of space\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bailey said the Test squad for New Zealand, likely to be 14-strong, would be selected after this week\u2019s round of Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\n

The Aussies will pick the squad ahead of Round 5 despite it scheduled to finish a week and a half before the first Test in Perth on December 9.<\/p>\n

Bailey said they had an idea of the squad \u2013 attempting to avoid a \u201cbat-off\u201d \u2013 but conceded the round would still be used to shape the 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably just leaves it a little bit tight in terms of some of the preparation (and) some of the other stakeholders we need to keep happy,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ll be really clear by that stage, I don\u2019t think I\u2019m disclosing too much to say we\u2019ve got some thoughts around what that squad is starting to look like as it is.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s nice to be in a position where I think there are still some great opportunities for players coming up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always hate, I don\u2019t like the idea of a bat-off or a bowl-off in a one-off game, so I don\u2019t necessarily think it will move the dial an enormous amount, but it certainly still has the potential to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beau Webster, Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann and Michael Neser are set to play this week\u2019s Round 4.<\/p>\n

Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis will instead prioritise Round 5.<\/p>\n

Bailey was earlier upfront about Labuschagne\u2019s immediate future, proactively announcing his status in selection discussions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do appreciate upfront that this is a little unusual and I will explain why,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I did want to say today that at this stage we won\u2019t be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but the New Zealand series.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reason I wanted to clear that up today is I think there has been a lot of speculation around his place in the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think this gives him a little bit of space and clears up a bit of conjecture around the next round of Shield cricket.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll pick the rest of the squad at the completion of Round 4 of Sheffield Shield.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bailey stopped short of declaring Labuschagne\u2019s Test career finished, leaving room for a recall in the future campaigns in India and England.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still possible, absolutely, I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best but that performance hasn\u2019t been there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s missed some opportunities \u2013 some promising starts in Darwin and even in South Africa \u2013 to go on and get a big score we\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever ruled anyone out permanently to ever not be selected again and that\u2019s no different in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bailey also poured cold water on the lingering speculation around Steve Smith\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Smith was injured for the series-deciding Test in South Africa and was on record in England casting doubt about whether he would make next winter\u2019s Ashes.<\/p>\n

But Bailey said he had seen no indication to suggest Smith wouldn\u2019t be a crucial part of both legacy-shaping series.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely, I certainly haven\u2019t had any discussions with (Smith) to suggest otherwise,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, all of the information he has shared from New York post those specialists updates are positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) sort of touched on this, and trying to get to the bottom of what causes it and if it happens again how quickly can we find a remedy that can get on top of it and get him back on the park.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he is absolutely quality player and we\u2019re a better team with him in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully that continues for as long (as possible), and he\u2019s been on record as saying that he takes it on a series by series basis and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s uncommon for players of his age.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s probably been asked about it more specifically than a lot of others, but for someone who has achieved a hell of a lot, I can still see him achieving a hell of a lot more.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve got some pretty exciting series coming up, I\u2019m confident he will be a very important part of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

MADDINSON GRATEFUL FOR TEST RETURN<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Nic Maddinson says he is grateful to selectors for giving him an unexpected second crack at Test cricket against South Africa.<\/p>\n

The NSW captain is still getting his feet back on the ground after a whirlwind few weeks, but insists he would take the challenge on again in a heartbeat despite the distinct lack of first-class match practice he took into being thrown in the deep end.<\/p>\n

Dropped and sent home before the deciding third Test, Maddinson says he would have \u201cdropped myself\u201d and does not agree with external criticism that selectors put him in an impossible position.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old \u2013 who had played his last Test for Australia back in 2016, and in more recent times fought a battle to overcome testicular cancer – admits he has no idea whether he will get a third opportunity to play Test cricket.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still feel like I can improve and I still feel like at 34, there\u2019s possibilities if you do well and there\u2019s still opportunities that pop up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen guys like Chris Rogers and Adam Voges have quite good careers later in their cricketing life. I think that\u2019s the way the team\u2019s heading and if it\u2019s an older squad, there\u2019s going to be pockets for guys to come in and play a role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally published as Marnus Labuschagne officially dropped from Test side<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australia has one final Sheffield Shield round to settle on Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s replacement after the door was 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