Australia drops Labuschagne from ODI squad amid form slump

Australia has dropped Marnus Labuschagne from its one-day international squad for upcoming tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa, a decision selectors framed as a format-specific conversation while leaving the door open for his Test return. The move, announced on September 1, 2026, comes amid a prolonged slump in form for the 32-year-old batter, who was once ranked the world's top Test player. Chair of selectors George Bailey emphasized that Labuschagne's omission from the 17-player ODI party was separate from his prospects for the three-Test series against South Africa beginning on October 9. "It was a one-day cricket conversation," Bailey said, noting the ODI series is a critical preparation tool for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in the same region. "The way that squad and team is structuring up, there just wasn't space for him." Labuschagne has averaged under 30 in Tests since his 2023 peak and has not scored a century in 43 innings, with his last triple-figure score coming in July 2023. He managed scores of 1, 31, and 4 during Australia's recent home series against Bangladesh.