Marnus Axed: Australia Drop Out-of-form No.3 For Black Caps Tests
For months the speculation has swirled around Marnus Labuschagne. Now Australia have made the call he is out for the New Zealand series, sent back to the Sheffield Shield to rediscover the form that once made him the best Test batter in the world.
Labuschagne axed for New Zealand series, but Ashes return still on the table...
Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of Australia's squad for next month's four-Test home series against New Zealand following an extended run of poor form, selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday.
The 32-year-old No.3, once ranked as the best Test batter in the world, has now gone 49 innings without a hundred and suffered another miserable tour of South Africa, falling for nought and four in the final Test as Australia lost the match and the series 2-1.
“At this stage we won't be considering Marnus 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.”
Labuschagne has averaged just 23.66 and managed only two half-centuries in 10 Tests since being left out of Australia's three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean last year.
He will head back to captain Queensland in the Sheffield Shield while the selectors consider who replaces him.
Bailey said Labuschagne could still fight his way back into the side for next year's tours of India and England.
“It's still possible, absolutely,” Bailey said.
“And I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best. But that performance hasn't been there.”
Labuschagne's axing triggers yet another rebuild at the top of Australia's order, a batting line-up that has been in a state of flux ever since David Warner walked away nearly three years ago.
Smith is tipped to return for the series opener against New Zealand in Perth on December 9 after sitting out the Cape Town Test with a neck injury. He is the obvious candidate to fill the No.3 vacancy, but he has shown little appetite for leaving his favoured No.4 position since his brief and unsuccessful experiment as an opener.
All-rounder Cameron Green has already batted at No.3 in Test cricket, while Matt Renshaw is another option, although picking him would force Australia to find a new opener as well.
Australia will lock in their squad after the next round of Sheffield Shield matches, which starts on Wednesday.
Former Test batters Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas are among the leading top-order performers so far in this season's Shield competition.
No comments:
Leave comment here