Here Is Why Marnus Labuschagne Was Dropped From Australia’s World Cup 2023 Squad: The Australian cricket fraternity was taken by surprise when star Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne, was left out of the 18-man preliminary squad for the upcoming bilateral ODIs and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. Despite being a regular feature in Australia’s ODI side for the past three years, Labuschagne’s recent dip in form has led to his exclusion from the World Cup squad.
Marnus Labuschagne made a promising start to his ODI career, scoring a century against South Africa in just his sixth match. However, his performance levels have since declined significantly. Over his last 14 ODIs, the right-handed batter managed an average of just 22.30, with only two half-centuries to his name.
This downturn in form has coincided with the global Covid-19 pandemic, during which Labuschagne averaged 25.80 in ODIs. Moreover, his strike rate of 77.98 during this period was below expectations, adding to his woes.
The decision to drop Labuschagne, one of the world’s premier Test batters, from the ODI side was difficult. Yet, the team management felt it necessary due to his lacklustre performances in the 50-over format over the past two years.
One notable issue was the similarity in roles between Labuschagne and fellow Australian batter, Steve Smith. Both players offer a similar style of play, making it increasingly difficult for Australia to accommodate both in the same ODI team.
Addressing the issue, selector George Bailey stated, “We know Marnus at his best is good enough to hold down a spot in the one-day team. We just haven’t seen enough of it consistently in the role that we’d like him to do.”
Marnus Labuschagne Was Dropped From Australia’s World Cup 2023 Squad
However, the Australian cricket board has assured Labuschagne that his World Cup omission doesn’t mark the end of his ODI career. Bailey added, “We’ve been really clear with Marnus. He’s going to be part of some Australia A games around the same time, so he can focus on some white-ball cricket.”
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Bailey expressed confidence that Labuschagne could return to the ODI setup in the future. He concluded by saying, “I’ve got no doubt he’ll play a part in one-day cricket in the future. We know at his best, he can play a really important role in one-day cricket.”
Despite Labuschagne’s previous contributions to the Australian ODI team, his recent form has led to his exclusion from the 2023 World Cup squad. However, with focus and application, he has the potential to bounce back and reclaim his spot in Australia’s ODI team.
