Labuschagne Left Out from Australian One-Day International Team Against India
Labuschagne finds himself omitted from Australia's three-game ODI series versus India, with high-performing Queensland colleague Matt Renshaw getting a unexpected call-up.
Performance Issues Lead to Omission
Selectors dropped Labuschagne from the one-day international team after being dismissed for one in each of his two innings during the top-end series against South Africa in August. He has a top score of forty-seven in his previous ten ODI batting appearances.
The 31-year-old has featured in 68 ODIs and accumulated 1,871 runs at an batting average of 34.64 runs per dismissal, but will now work towards a Test team comeback in time for the Ashes starting in Perth on 21 November.
Surprise Inclusion and Team Updates
Labuschagne has shown signs of a return to form with a score of 160 for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield this week, while Renshaw also hit a century for the Bulls in the identical match against Tasmania.
Renshaw is in line to make his ODI debut in the forthcoming series against India after previously being selected in an ODI squad in 2022.
The left-hander has played 14 Test matches with the last coming in India in 2023 but is also hoping for a red-ball recall as Australia search for a answer to their top-order woes.
Bowling Returns and Fitness News
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is back for the ODI series against India after taking a break since performing well for Australia in the whitewash of West Indies in July.
Big Bash star Mitch Owen might get his ODI debut after sustaining a head injury in the lead up to Australia’s most recent 50-over series against South Africa.
Skipper Pat Cummins continues to be absent as he aims to recover from a back injury in time to lead Australia in the opening Test of the Ashes in November.
Team Announcement Strategy and Schedule
Australia have named a squad for only the first two T20s against India with the Ashes approaching, although Glenn Maxwell will sit out the five-game T20 series due to a wrist problem sustained in New Zealand.
Mitch Marsh will skipper both the ODI and T20 sides after smashing a century in the last match against New Zealand to clinch a 2-0 series win last week.
“Selectors have announced a squad for the ODI series and first two games of the T20 series as there will be some management through the back end of the series as players get ready for the summer through Sheffield Shield cricket,” selection chief George Bailey said.
“The bulk of the T20 squad will stay as a group as it’s an crucial phase in the preparation for the World Cup next year, however we are aiming to find equilibrium to ensure we simultaneously get ready certain individuals for the Test matches ahead.”
Australia’s three-match ODI series against India begins on October 19 in Perth, before the rivals play five T20s from 29 October.
Australian One-Day Squad:
- Mitchell Marsh capt
- Xavier Bartlett
- Alex Carey
- Cooper Connolly
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Cameron Green
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Mitchell Owen
- Matthew Renshaw
- Matthew Short
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
Australia T20 Squad (first two games):
- Mitchell Marsh captain
- Sean Abbott
- Xavier Bartlett
- Tim David
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Nathan Ellis
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Matthew Kuhnemann
- Mitchell Owen
- Matthew Short
- Marcus Stoinis
- Adam Zampa
