Labuschagne dropped again: 'No doubt I will be back' in Australia Test side
Synopsis
Dropped for the second time in 17 months, Marnus Labuschagne is not retreating — he is recalibrating. Back captaining Queensland in Sheffield Shield, he insists his path back to the Australian Test team ‘will work itself out,’ echoing a comeback he has pulled off before. The No. 3 slot he vacates is now a genuine selection puzzle ahead of the New Zealand series.
Key Takeaways
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from the Australian Test squad for the second time in 17 months .
Selection chair George Bailey confirmed he will not feature in the series opener against New Zealand from 9 December in Perth .
Since his last Test century at the 2023 Ashes , Labuschagne has averaged just 23.66 in 10 Tests , with only two fifties from 19 innings .
He has not scored a half-century in his last 16 innings .
Labuschagne will return to captain Queensland in the Sheffield Shield , beginning Wednesday.
Contenders for the No.
3 spot include Kurtis Patterson , Nathan McSweeney , Sam Konstas , and Jack Clayton .
Marnus Labuschagne has spoken candidly about his second Test axing in 17 months, expressing full confidence that he will reclaim his place in the Australian Test team and asserting that his ‘path back will work itself out.’ The 32-year-old was confirmed out of the squad by selection chair George Bailey for Australia’s series opener against New Zealand, scheduled from 9 December in Perth.
The Omission and What Prompted It
Labuschagne’s exclusion is a direct consequence of a prolonged slump in form that stretches back to the 2023 Ashes — the last series in which he scored a century. Since being dropped for Australia’s three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean last year, he has averaged a modest 23.66 across 10 Tests, managing just two fifties from 19 innings.
His most recent run of form has been particularly stark. The right-hander has gone 16 consecutive innings without a half-century, returning only 36 runs at an average of 12 against Bangladesh and 131 runs at 21.83 in South Africa, where he scored 0 and 4 after failing to reach 40 in either of the first two Tests.
Labuschagne’s Own Words
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Labuschagne acknowledged the weight of the scrutiny he has been under but framed the break as an opportunity rather than a setback. ‘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,’ he said, as reported by cricket.com.au.
He added: ‘You take this opportunity to 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.’
Labuschagne underlined his commitment to the state side: ‘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.’
Return to Domestic Cricket
The batsman will return to captain Queensland in the domestic circuit, with the next Sheffield Shield round commencing on Wednesday. This is not unfamiliar territory — Labuschagne rebuilt his career through state cricket before originally breaking into the Test side, and those close to the team believe the same route remains open to him.
Who Could Fill the No. 3 Slot
Labuschagne’s absence opens the door for a cluster of contenders to stake a claim at No. 3 against the Kiwis. Kurtis Patterson, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Queensland teammate Jack Clayton are all reportedly in the frame, according to reports. Meanwhile, Steve Smith’s return to the side is widely expected to be the first selection call made when the squad is announced after the next Sheffield Shield round; Smith had missed the Cape Town decider due to a neck injury.
What Comes Next
The selectors are set to name the Test squad following the upcoming Sheffield Shield fixtures. With Australia’s summer shaping up as a significant one, competition for batting slots will be fierce. For Labuschagne, runs at Sheffield Shield level remain the clearest and most compelling argument he can make to the national selectors.
Point of View
His numbers have been those of a fringe player, not a No. 3 in a top-ranked Test side. His comeback narrative is genuine; he has rebuilt before. But the Sheffield Shield window is narrow, and contenders like McSweeney and Konstas are younger, hungrier, and unburdened by expectation. The real question is whether Australian selectors, under pressure to blood the next generation, give Labuschagne the runway he needs — or whether sentiment gives way to cold selection calculus.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Marnus Labuschagne dropped from the Australian Test team?
Labuschagne was dropped due to an extended run of poor form dating back to the 2023 Ashes. Since then, he has averaged just 23.66 in 10 Tests and failed to score a half-century in his last 16 innings, making his omission for the New Zealand series unavoidable.
Is this the first time Labuschagne has been dropped from the Test squad?
No, this is the second time in 17 months. He was previously dropped for Australia’s three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean. He has spoken about having rebuilt before and expressed confidence he can do so again.
Who could replace Labuschagne at No. 3 for Australia against New Zealand?
Kurtis Patterson, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, and Queensland’s Jack Clayton are all reportedly in contention for the slot. The selectors are expected to name the squad after the next Sheffield Shield round.
What is Labuschagne doing after being dropped?
Labuschagne returns to domestic cricket to captain Queensland in the Sheffield Shield, with the next round beginning on Wednesday 10 November. He has stated his focus is entirely on performing for Queensland as both a batter and captain.
When does Australia’s Test series against New Zealand begin?
Australia’s Test series against New Zealand begins on 9 December in Perth. Steve Smith is also expected to return to the squad after missing the Cape Town decider against South Africa due to a neck injury.
