Marnus Labuschagne says he has “no doubt” he’ll return to the Australian team despite being dropped for the upcoming Tests against New Zealand.
Selection chair George Bailey confirmed on Monday the former world No.1 Test batter would not be considered for selection for this summer’s four-match series.
Marnus Labuschagne has been axed for Test series against New Zealand. Getty Images
“You’re pretty aware as a cricketer ... you use this as an opportunity to step back from the scrutiny, and being under the pump for probably two years now,” Labuschagne told media on Tuesday.
“Come back and play for Queensland, enjoy your time here and find ways to win games for Queensland. Score runs, enjoy the games and I think my path back to the Australian team will work itself out.
“I’ve done it before, and I’ve got no doubt I will be back there. When? Who knows, but that’s the aspiration and desire.
“Right now, my feet are firmly fixed here with Queensland and doing whatever I can as a captain, batter, in the field and with the ball to help us win games.”
This is the second time Labuschagne has copped the axe in the last two years, having been dropped for last July’s tour of the West Indies , before returning for the Ashes.
“A lot of those mistakes have potentially come from the pressure of having to keep scoring runs and being on the verge of losing my spot,” he said.
“When you’re thinking too much about yourself, your focus tends to go down that path and not on what the team needs.
“I think if you look at those dismissals in South Africa , some of those dismissals feel like they come from a lack of clarity on what the team needed, and my own personal battle with scoring runs and missing out, and getting to 30 and going ‘I really want to go on’, and trying to rush the game.
“Hopefully, when I come back into that Australian lineup – obviously the only way that’s going to happen is through mountains of runs – that is the focus; getting back into that team orientation around what do we need from me.”
Jack Clayton has emerged as a possible successor for Labuschagne. Getty Images
With Labuschagne out, he has backed Queensland Shield teammate Jack Clayton as his successor in the squad.
But NSW rivals Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas , as well as South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney, are also in the running.
“My thing for Jack is, I’m here to support him,” Labuschagne said.
“I understand this is the first time for him being on this journey of being in the spotlight, and whatever I can do to help him and make him feel comfortable to make sure that if he does get the opportunity, he takes it with both hands.
“I think everyone’s good enough. I think it’s all this [the media attention] that is what you need to be able to deal with. I don’t think it’s the cricket, he’s skillful enough and a good player, and I think he’s got a really calm head on him as well.
“He’s mature enough in his age and how he understands the game, and he’s gone through the ups and downs of Shield cricket, so there are really a lot of positives.”
Labuschagne will captain Queensland for their Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania at the Gabba, starting on Wednesday.
says he has “no doubt” he’ll return to the Australian team despite being dropped for the upcoming Tests against New Zealand.
Selection chair confirmed on Monday the former world No.1 Test batter for this summer’s four-match series.
This is the second time Labuschagne has copped the axe in the last two years, having been , before returning for the Ashes.
“I think if you look at those dismissals in , some of those dismissals feel like they come from a lack of clarity on what the team needed, and my own personal battle with scoring runs and missing out, and getting to 30 and going ‘I really want to go on’, and trying to rush the game.
With Labuschagne out, he has backed Queensland teammate as his successor in the squad.
But NSW rivals Kurtis Patterson and , as well as South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney, are also in the running.
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