Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for any of the four Tests against New Zealand. The announcement, made on Monday, November 9, follows a lean run since the 2025 Ashes and puts the batter's Test average and ranking under closer scrutiny.
What George Bailey Confirmed
Bailey said Labuschagne will not be considered for the first Test in Perth or for the rest of the home series. He said he wanted to settle the speculation before the fourth round of the Sheffield Shield begins on Wednesday, November 12.
The selectors are expected to name a 14-man squad for the opening Test shortly after that round. Bailey said the Shield round still offers players a final chance to influence selection.
Pathway Back Into the Side
Bailey indicated that Labuschagne could return to contention for the tours of India and England in 2027, though no guarantee was given. He also said he does not favour a one-off bat-off in a single game, so one Shield match is unlikely to move the dial greatly.
The advice to Labuschagne was to focus on playing as well as he can for Queensland for a period of time.
Labuschagne's Recent Test Numbers
The selection call rests on a sustained dip rather than a single series. The table below summarises the key figures reported since his return to the Test side.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|
| Career Tests played | 68 |
| Tests since 2025 Ashes return | 10 |
| Average since return | 23.66 |
| Hundreds since return | 0 |
| Last Test century | 2023, Old Trafford vs England |
| Current ICC Test batting rank | 40th |
He was once ranked the top Test batter in the world. His current position of 40th marks a significant fall from that peak.
South Africa Series Snapshot
In South Africa, Labuschagne's highest score was 39. He averaged 21.83 across six innings, which is below his average since the Ashes return.
| Series | Innings | Average | Highest Score |
|---|
| South Africa (recent) | 6 | 21.83 | 39 |
| Since 2025 Ashes return (10 Tests) | Not specified | 23.66 | Not specified |
Domestic Form Versus Test Output
This is the second time in 17 months that Labuschagne has been dropped from the Test squad. After the first omission in 2025, he scored five centuries in ten domestic innings for Queensland across two formats.
That output earned a recall for the Ashes, but it did not carry over to Test cricket. Bailey acknowledged this directly, saying it would be hard to recall him on domestic form alone.
Why the Shield Is a Limited Indicator
Bailey described Labuschagne as an incredible performer at first-class level and expects that to continue. The selectors, however, now treat the conversion from Shield runs to Test runs as the key measure.
| Phase | Domestic Output | Test Result |
|---|
| After 2025 omission | 5 centuries in 10 innings (two formats, Queensland) | 23.66 average across 10 Tests |
Squad Picture for the New Zealand Series
Bailey said the selectors were close to finalising a 14-player squad. Several senior players have specific availability plans in the Shield rounds ahead.
| Player | Shield Availability |
|---|
| Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood | Sit out the next two rounds |
| Nathan Lyon | Available for round four |
| Matt Renshaw | Set to feature in round four |
| Beau Webster, Matt Kuhnemann, Michael Neser | In contention for round four |
| Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Steven Smith | Set to play in round five |
| Scott Boland | Availability for round five confirmed |
| Travis Head | Rested from the England ODIs and will not play the Shield match |
Smith is expected to be available, subject to medical clearance after the neck injury that cut short his South Africa tour.
Outlook
With Labuschagne ruled out, the No. 3 slot is open ahead of the series. The numbers suggest the decision reflects a long-run output trend, with an average of 23.66 across ten Tests and no hundred since 2023. His route back runs through sustained returns for Queensland.