Australia axes Labuschagne for New Zealand Test series

MELBOURNE (Agencies): Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne for next month’s four-test home series against New Zealand after a prolonged slump in form, selector George Bailey confirmed on ​Monday. The 32-year-old number three, once the world’s top-ranked test batter, has gone 49 ‌innings without a century and endured another poor tour of South Africa, scoring zero and four in the final Test as Australia lost the match and series 2-1.  “At this stage we won’t ​be considering Marnus for selection for certainly that first test, but for the ​New Zealand series,” Bailey told reporters. “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.” Labuschagne has averaged 23.66 and ​managed only 2 half-centuries in 10 tests since being dropped for Australia’s three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean last year. He will return to captain Queensland in the Sheffield Shield while selectors ​weigh replacements. Bailey said Labuschagne could still force his way back into the team for ​next year’s tours of India and England. “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.”

Labuschagne’s omission means another shake-up for an Australian top order which has been in almost constant flux since opener David Warner retired nearly three years ago. Steve Smith, who ​is expected to return ​for the New ⁠Zealand opener in Perth on December 9 after missing the Cape Town test with a neck injury, could bat at number ​three but has been reluctant to budge from his favoured number ​four slot ⁠since an ill-fated spell as an opener. All-rounder Cameron Green has previously batted at three at test level while Matt Renshaw could also be considered, though it would mean bringing in ⁠another ​opener. Australia will finalise their squad following the next round ​of Shield matches, which begins on Wednesday. Former Test batters Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas are among Australia’s best ​top order performers early in the Shield season.