Labuschagne dropped for New Zealand Test series
Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread • AFP/Getty Images
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for selection for the upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand.
Bailey told reporters on Monday that the national selection panel had made the decision to announce Labuschagne's axing now to allow him to go back to captain Queensland in the Sheffield Shield without the conjecture hanging over his head.
Selectors are due to pick Australia's Test squad for the first Test against New Zealand after the fourth Shield round which starts on Wednesday.
"We won't be considering Man for selection for certainly for that first Test, but for the New Zealand series," Bailey said. "And the reason I just wanted to clear that up today is I think there's going to be or has been a lot of speculation around his 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 as we work through the the next round of Shield cricket, and we'll pick the rest of that squad at the end of the completion of round four of Sheffield Shield."
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