Labuschagne Left Out from Australia's ODI Team Against India
The Australian selectors have left out Labuschagne from Australia's three-match ODI series facing India, with high-performing Queensland teammate Matt Renshaw earning a surprise inclusion.
Recent Form Lead to Exclusion
The right-hander was left out from the ODI team after managing only a single run in each of his two innings during the recent series against South Africa in August. He has a best innings of forty-seven in his last 10 ODI batting appearances.
Labuschagne has featured in 68 ODIs and scored 1,871 ODI runs at an batting average of 34.64, but will now continue to press his claims a return to the Test side ahead of the Ashes starting in Perth on 21 November.
Renshaw's Return and Team Updates
There have been indications of a return to form with 160 for Queensland in the domestic first-class competition this week, while Renshaw scored a hundred 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 last being included in an ODI squad in 2022.
The left-hander has played 14 Test matches with the most recent appearance in India in 2023 but is also aiming for a red-ball recall as Australia search for a fix to their opening batting issues.
Bowling Returns and Injury Updates
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc is back for the ODI series against India after taking a break since starring for Australia in the clean sweep of West Indies in July.
Big Bash star Mitch Owen might get his ODI debut after being concussed in the lead up to Australia’s last 50-over series against South Africa.
Skipper Pat Cummins continues to be absent as he works to regain fitness from a spinal issue in time to lead Australia in the first Ashes Test in November.
Squad Selection Strategy and Fixtures
Australia have announced 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 teams after smashing a century in the last match against New Zealand to seal a two-nil victory last week.
“We have named a squad for the ODI series and initial two matches of the T20 series as there will be some management through the later stages of the series as players get ready for the cricket season through domestic first-class matches,” Australia chair of selectors 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 T20 World Cup next year, however we are aiming to find equilibrium to ensure we simultaneously prepare certain individuals for the Test series ahead.”
Australia’s three-match ODI series against India starts on 19 October in Perth, before the opponents play five T20s from 29 October.
Australia ODI Team:
- 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
Australian T20 Team (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