Labuschagne axed for SA ODIs as Australia look to the future

Australia appear to be moving on from Marnus Labuschagne as part of their ODI plans, but what effect that will have on the South African-born batter’s Test status will only be revealed next week.

Labuschagne, who was part of the victorious World Cup-winning team in India three years ago, was the biggest casualty in Australia’s ODI squad named on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old played 72 ODIs and was a late inclusion for the 2023 World Cup side, scoring an important half-century in the final against India.

However, a year out from the 2027 ODI showpiece, Labuschagne’s exclusion from the six ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month appears to spell the end of his time in Australia’s One-Day setup.

The young guns hold their spots in the Aussie men's ODI squad to take on Zimbabwe and South Africa, but there's a key omission too: https://t.co/uEsR8VkbhV pic.twitter.com/P9vOUuOGeQ

The Australians will name their Test squad for the three-match series against the Proteas next week, with Labuschagne’s spot set to be one of the main topics for debate over the next few days.

Like his Test form, Labuschagne’s ODI form has fallen off a cliff in the past few years.

Instead, Oliver Peake, who turns 20 next week, received another call-up after making his ODI debut earlier this year, while Matt Renshaw, who earned six of his nine ODI caps on tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan this year, will have a chance to cement a spot in the top order.

In addition, 22-year-old left-arm spinner Joel Davies will also make the trip to Southern Africa.

Mitchell Marsh will captain the Australians for the Zimbabwean leg of the tour, with Pat Cummins returning for the South African portion along with Mitchell Starc.

“This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year’s World Cup, being played in the same countries, for the group,” Australia’s selection convenor, George Bailey, said.

“For Ollie and Joel, who we rate very highly, it’s another fantastic opportunity and a further chance for them to continue their exposure and growth in the Australian team.”

Cummins and Starc are being carefully managed, with Australia dealing with a packed calendar over the next year, which, besides the tour to South Africa, includes a four-Test home series with New Zealand and then a five-match Test series in India and England. The World Cup in October 2027 may herald the end of an era for many in the current squad.

The Test series against the Proteas, which starts in Durban on October 9, is the first between the two nations in South Africa since the “sandpaper series” in 2018. The teams played three Tests in Australia in 2022, with Cummins’ team winning 2-0. South Africa won the World Test Championship final in 2025, which is the last time the teams played a Test match.