Updated November 9, 2026 - 1.23am . First published at 12.40am
Australian first drop Marnus Labuschagne has been axed for this summer’s Test series against New Zealand , paying the price for his dismal form slump.
Selection chair George Bailey confirmed to media on Monday that the former world No.1 Test batter would not be considered for selection for the four-match series beginning in Perth on December 9.
Marnus Labuschagne during the recent Test series in South Africa. Getty Images
“At this stage we won’t be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series,” Bailey said.
“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 as we work through the next round of (Sheffield) Shield cricket.”
Labuschagne, 32, has now been dropped from the Test side twice.
The Queenslander was first axed for last year’s tour of the Caribbean , and although he was recalled to the Test team on the back of blazing domestic form for the Bulls, he failed to take advantage of his second life.
He has not scored a Test century since the 2023 Ashes series, when he made 111 at Old Trafford.
His run of century-less Test innings extended to 49 on the recent tour of South Africa, where he mustered only 131 runs at 21.83 across three matches.
His second stint in the Test side produced only 426 runs at 23.66 from 10 games.
Across the first 30 matches of Labuschagne’s Test career, the right-hander made 3041 runs, including 10 centuries, at an average of 60.82 to soar to top spot in the International Cricket Council’s batting rankings.
Over the 38 Tests that have followed, he’s managed 1816 runs, and only one century, at an average of 28.82.
Despite his woeful form and second axing, Bailey didn’t shut the door on Labuschagne’s Test career.
Australia will play two bumper away tours in 2027, against India and England.
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from the Australian Test side for the second time. AP
“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. I think he’s missed some opportunities, some promising starts in Darwin and even in South Africa as well, to go on and get a big score that we’d like and would have liked for some time, and that just hasn’t happened.
“But I don’t think we’ve ever ruled anyone out permanently ... and that’s no different in this case.”
Among the contenders to replace Labuschagne in the team are Kurtis Patterson , Sam Konstas , Nathan McSweeney and Jack Clayton .
There is the possibility of Steve Smith shuffling up from No.4 to first drop and one of those four batters slotting into the middle order.
first drop has been axed for this summer’s Test series against , paying the price for his dismal form slump.
Selection chair confirmed to media on Monday that the former world No.1 Test batter would not be considered for selection for the four-match series beginning in Perth on December 9.
, and although he was recalled to the Test team on the back of blazing domestic form for the Bulls, he failed to take advantage of his second life.
“But I don’t think we’ve ever ruled anyone out permanently ... and that’s no different in this case.”
Among the contenders to replace Labuschagne in the team are , , Nathan McSweeney and .
There is the possibility of shuffling up from No.4 to first drop and one of those four batters slotting into the middle order.
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