Labuschagne was dropped for the recent series against West Indies
Marnus Labuschagne has been going through a rough patch which was bound to happen looking at his decline in Test cricket for the last two years. After scoring nine hundreds, two of which were double tons, within two calendar years, Labuschagne managed to score four fifties and a hundred in 2023.
From January 2024 onwards, the Queenslander failed to reach three figures even once in 24 innings while getting to a half century six times. His last hundred came in the 2023 Ashes in England.
AUSA-W
144/8
INDA-W
140/8
KNK
171/10
VSS
195/5
Vijayawada Sunshiners beat Kakinada Kings by 24 runs
BVB
141/3
ROR
139/10
Bhimavaram Bulls beat Royals of Rayalaseema by 7 wickets
AMR
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TBW
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SVL
–
KNK
–
PD
152/10
NDS
179/8
North Delhi Strikers won by 27 runs
WDL
156/7
EDR
158/8
East Delhi Riders beat West Delhi Lions by 2 runs
SDS
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NDT
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NDS
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WDL
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CRO
111/4
CYP
134/4
Cyprus beat Croatia by 23 runs
CRO
103/4
CYP
102/8
Croatia beat Cyprus by 6 wickets
CRO
107/4
CYP
110/2
Cyprus won by 8 wickets
ZGW
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ZAS
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ZAS
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RJM
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ZGW
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ZGA
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ZAS
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RJM
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ZGW
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ZGA
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KENT
238/8
DURH
239/3
Durham beat Kent by 7 wickets
SOM
250/7
LAN
254/8
Lancashire beat Somerset by 2 wickets
MID
256/5
SUSS
255/9
Middlesex beat Sussex by 5 wickets
DER
341/8
NOT
214/10
Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by 127 runs
BB
291/8
NOR
229/10
Birmingham Bears won by 62 runs
GLO
182/3
LEI
285/7
ESS
280/10
WOR
340/9
Worcestershire beat Essex by 60 runs
91YC
70/9
BCC
20/0
Bud Cricket Club beat 91 Yards Club by 10 wickets (D/L) method
NAJC
119/10
GUG
121/7
Guwahati Giants beat Nabajyoti Club by 3 wickets
CCC
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91YC
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NVR
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GUG
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TCC
117/8
SBSCC
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NCMI
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PCR
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CEC-A
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RTZ
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KRMPS
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GUJCC
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JOR
47/10
PRK
49/5
Perak beat Johor by 5 wickets
MEL
107/8
PENG
111/4
Penang beat Melaka by 6 wickets
SEL
76/1
KLPR
141/1
Selangor beat Kuala Lumpur by 9 wickets (D/L) method
GBM
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MGD
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BNB
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MYW
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MWW
96/7
HTW
107/10
Hubli Tigers Women beat Mysore Warriors Women by 11 runs
NPB
196/4
EAE
144/10
NPL Bears beat Eavion Eagles by 52 runs
PAJ
173/8
PMW
197/6
Pupkewitz Motors Wildcats beat Paratus Jets by 24 runs
IRE-W
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PAK-W
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WI
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PAK
31/0
SLGY
163/6
SLGR
165/5
SLC Greens won by 5 wickets
SLGR
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SLBL
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AUS
178/10
SA
161/9
Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs
SOB
109/1
BIP
106/7
Southern Brave won by 9 wickets
TRR
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NOS
81/4
MAO
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LOS
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SBW-W
139/7
BIP-W
124/10
Southern Brave Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 15 runs
TRW-W
128/8
NOS-W
129/2
Northern Superchargers Women beat Trent Rockets Women by 8 wickets
MOW-W
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LSW-W
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SWE
152/7
FRA
153/8
France beat Sweden by 2 wickets
AUST
106/2
NOR
105/10
Austria won by 8 wickets
He managed to get to 90 just once in these 24 innings, which showed his waning ability to convert good starts into big scores. Within just two years of cementing his place as Australia No.3, Labuschagne was forced to open the innings in the World Test Championship 2025 final against South Africa in June when Cameron Green returned from an injury.
The 31-year-old failed to make the most of the opportunity as he recorded scores of 17 and 22 at Lord’s as Australia failed to defend their WTC title. The axe fell swiftly when Australia announced the squad for their West Indies which kept out Labuschagne and captain Pat Cummins making it clear that Green will be their No.3 for the foreseeable future.
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This meant Labuschagne has to bat in the opener’s role whether he prefers it or not. The Queenslander is well aware of the fact as he hopes he can make a comeback for the Ashes beginning in November.
“This (being dropped) has given me an opportunity to reflect and not having the pressure of the media saying, ‘Marnus has got to go.’I mean that’s part of the game. There is a tipping point but it’s something I thrive on… proving the doubters wrong and being able to find a way. Missing those West Indies Tests gave me the chance to back and think,” Labuschagne told News Corp in an interview.
Labuschagne remained optimistic while also speaking openly about the sacrifice he has to make in order to keep playing Test cricket.
“If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that’s fine. If you had asked me where I prefer to bat obviously I have batted at three my whole career, but at this stage you don’t get a choice,” he said.
Sam Konstas, who has impressed in the series against India, is likely to back on the bench after a woeful run of form in Australia’s successful series in the Caribbean.
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Australia A Women beat India A Women by 4 runs