Australia have drawn a sharp line under their World Cup triumph, dropping Marnus Labuschagne from their one-day plans while recalling Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for the South African leg of their African tour.
Less than a year after lifting the trophy in Ahmedabad, and less than a year out from the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the selectors have made it clear: reputations no longer guarantee a seat on the plane.
World Cup hero left out
Labuschagne, who played a key hand with a half-century in the 2023 final against India, has been squeezed out of the ODI squad named for back-to-back series in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month.
He has been almost ever-present in the format, missing just five of Australia’s previous 56 ODIs. Now, at 32, he finds himself on the outside looking in, a high-profile casualty of a squad refresh.
He is one of five players omitted from the group that toured Pakistan and Bangladesh in May and June. Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy and Liam Scott also drop out as the selectors reshape the middle tier of the squad.
Cummins and Starc back on African duty
While Labuschagne steps away, the fast-bowling spearheads step back in.
Captain Pat Cummins and left-arm destroyer Mitchell Starc will both feature in the ODI series against South Africa, underlining how seriously Australia are treating conditions that will mirror next year’s World Cup.
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who both skipped the Pakistan and Bangladesh ODIs, return as well, restoring the core of the batting and leadership group that drove Australia’s surge to the title in 2023.
The presence of Cummins, Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa gives Australia a familiar, battle-hardened spine. Around them, though, the picture is changing fast.
New blood for a new cycle
The boldest statement sits in the middle of the squad list. Cooper Connolly, Oliver Peake and Joel Davies – emerging names rather than established ones – have been promoted into the ODI set-up.
Their inclusion signals a clear push towards the next cycle, using the Zimbabwe and South Africa series as a testing ground for fresh talent under the guidance of senior stars.
Australia’s ODI squad for the African tour reads:
Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins (South Africa only), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (South Africa only), Adam Zampa.
Australia will first tackle a three-match series against Zimbabwe before heading into another three ODIs against South Africa, then rolling straight into a Test series against the Proteas.
The message is unmistakable. The world champions are not standing still. Big names have been cut, young players have been fast-tracked, and the next World Cup is already looming over every selection call.
