Selection panel drops Labuschagne, eyes future India and England tours

George Bailey, the head of Australia’s selection committee, confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be named in the Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand series. The exclusion is intended to allow Labuschagne to lead Queensland in the Sheffield Shield without the distraction of international duties.

"We will definitely not choose Marnus for the first Test and the New Zealand series. I want to make this clear because so many assumptions have been made about his place," Bailey told the press. He said the panel will re‑evaluate the team composition after the Shield’s fourth round.

Labuschagne’s recent Test record shows an average of 23.66 from 16 innings across ten matches, highlighted by a lone half‑century and a stretch without a century since 2023.

Looking ahead, Bailey suggested that a strong performance in domestic cricket could resurrect Labuschagne’s chances for the 2025 tours of India and England. He reiterated that no player has ever been permanently excluded from selection, and that form at the first‑class level will be the key driver.

The Australian side for the opening New Zealand Test will be announced after Wednesday’s Sheffield Shield action.