Australia Drops Labuschagne for New Zealand Test Series

Australia has dropped Marnus Labuschagne from its plans for the home Test series against New Zealand, with selection chair George Bailey confirming the decision on November 9. The series begins in Perth on December 9. Labuschagne, Australia's number 3 batter, will return to captaining Queensland in domestic cricket. Bailey said selectors had made the decision early to give the 32-year-old space and remove speculation about his position while the next Sheffield Shield round takes place. That round begins on Wednesday, and selectors will choose the rest of Australia's squad after it. Bailey left open the possibility of Labuschagne returning for next year's series against India and England. “It’s still possible, absolutely,” he said. Labuschagne has gone 49 Test innings without a century, with his last hundred coming during the 2023 Ashes. He was also dropped for last year's West Indies series. Across his past 10 Tests, he has averaged 23.66, making two half-centuries in 19 innings. The New Zealand series comprises four Tests. Perth hosts the opener on December 9–13, followed by Adelaide on December 17–21. The Melbourne Test runs from December 26–30, and the series concludes in Sydney on January 4–8.