Marnus Labuschagne has been called into Australia’s squad for the three-match ODI series against India, starting Sunday, after all-rounder Cameron Green was ruled out with side soreness. The selectors didn’t want to risk him ahead of the Ashes starting next month. “Green will have a short rehab and is expected to return in round three of the Sheffield Shield as part of his Ashes preparation,” Cricket Australia said.

Marnus Labuschagne Replaces Injured Cameron Green in IND vs AUS ODI Series

Labuschagne wasn’t in the original squad but earned his place after scoring 159 for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match on Thursday, his fourth century of the season. This is the third last-minute change for Australia in the first ODI.

🚨 LABUSCHAGNE IS BACK IN ODIs 🚨

- Marnus Labuschagne replaces injured Cameron Green in the ODI series against India. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/42lK15Y1mV

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 17, 2025

Josh Philippe replaces the injured Josh Inglis, and Matthew Kuhnemann comes in for Adam Zampa, who is unavailable for personal reasons. For India, the focus will be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are back in action after retiring from Tests and playing only one format now.

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Australia Squad for First ODI:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc.

From Second ODI onwards: Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis.

Australia have dropped their veteran middle-order batter, Marnus Labuschagne, from the three-match ODI squad to face India at home as his Queensland team-mate, Matt Renshaw, is in line to make his debut in the format. Marnus’ form was a concern with a top score of just 47 in the last ten ODI innings, which didn’t push the selectors enough to keep him. 

Labuschagne might not feature against South Africa in August if Matthew Short wasn’t ruled out of the side with a side strain. This omission means he could continue to feature in the ongoing Sheffield Shield, where he started with a fine 160 against Tasmania, which could pave the way for his Test recall during the Ashes 2025-26.

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Renshaw’s call-up comes after an impressive run in the List-A cricket as he smashed a century for Australia A against Sri Lanka in Darwin in the winter. Since November 2021, in 50-over games, he has an average of over 48, with six of his seven centuries coming in this period. He could also be an option for numbers three and four in the Ashes squad.

Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne for three-match ODI series against India

Mitchell Starc, who hasn’t played in the ODIs since last November, has also been included along with the available players. Alex Carey, who missed the Shield game for South Australia due to his participation in the T20I series in New Zealand, will miss the opening ODI to feature in the second round of the Sheffield game.

His fellow wicket-keeper, Josh Inglis, has recovered from the calf strain that put him out of the T20I squad as he returns to the 50-over and 20-over sides. Cameron Green has also been added for the ODIs. The opening 50-over game will be on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, while the second and third clashes will be on October 23 and 25 in Adelaide and Sydney.

Australia’s ODI squad against India at home

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Mitchell Owen, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has begun the domestic summer off to a promising start with a stylish century during the One-day Cup victory for Queensland against Victoria at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. The veteran batter has been fighting hard to get a Test recall for the upcoming Ashes 2025/26 campaign against England with a 92-ball century, combined with a 106-run fourth wicket stand.

However, an interesting situation took place during the 23rd over of the innings, when the Australia side accused the batter of obstructing the field after the opponent captain disrupted a run-out chance at the bowling end. The issue has caused controversy on social media as the video went viral.

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After defending the delivery from seamer, Mitchell Perry, the right-handed batter reached for the ball with his bat and was trying to prevent it from spinning back onto his stumps. However, head down and focus on the ball, Marnus was unaware of the entire condition that Matthew Renshaw had sprinted down the track in search of a quick single, with the two batters nearly stranded at the same end.

Watch: Victoria accuse Marnus Labuschagne of obstructing the field during One-day Cup

Rather than attempting the run-out at the bowling end of the pitch, Perry protested with the umpires as he retrieved the ball, arguing the batter’s actions warranted a dismissal for obstructing the field. The umpires, Riki Wessels and Donovan Koch, discussed the matter, with the veteran Peter Handscomb providing some input.

CONTROVERSY 🚨👀
The Victorians accused Marnus Labuschagne of obstructing the field after the Bulls captain inadvertently disrupted a run-out chance at the other end.#Cricket #Labuschagne #OneDayCup #Controversy pic.twitter.com/ToUhgKFGBg

— Kayo Sports (@kayosports) September 17, 2025

“This is interesting. The umpires are going to have a look at this. (Perry) I was questioning the fact that Marnus was fiddling around with the ball. Tough call for the umpires there.” Ray Phillips expressed in the commentary.

Labuschagne smashed 130 runs in 118 deliveries, thanks to 17 boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 110.17. Jack Wildermuth smacked an unbeaten knock of 54 runs in 30 balls at a strike rate of 180, shouldering on four sixes and two boundaries. Victoria got bundled out for 255 runs, as they faced a 55-run defeat.

Australia's star batter Marnus Labuschagne stunned everyone with his bowling. Labuschagne is known for his technical batting abilities and can bowl a few overs as well. But the match-turning incident that happened during the final of the 2025 KFC T20 Max was perhaps beyond his imagination.

Labuschagne, who was representing Redlands, took a hat-trick—3 wickets in 3 balls—against Valley. When the match was nicely poised for a possible entertaining ending, Labuschagne took the matter into his own hands and dealt with it the best way available. Batting first, Labuschagne's team, Redlands, registered a massive total of 191/6, thanks to Jimmy Peirson's century.

The opponent team, Valley, went to fight toe-to-toe with the help from Max Bryant, who scored 76 off 38. He emerged as the only hope for Valley to chase down the big target. As soon as he lost his wicket, Valley's hope for winning the final was all gone. Labuschagne turned out as one of the main protagonists for Redlands to defend their total. He went to take the hat trick after securing three catches during his fielding job.

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Three deliveries confirmed fate of the final

Those three deliveries from Marnus marked the end of their opposition team's fighting. Valley bowled out for 150 in just 17.2 overs. Fans at the Matthew Hayden Stand at Allan Border Field in Brisbane celebrated this unreal moment to mark it as special. 

Marnus Labuschagne took a a hattrick in the KFC T20 Max Final. 🤯pic.twitter.com/8ye7U7udVu

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 7, 2025

Labuschagne's stellar performance in the KFC T20 Max competition comes as he aims to reclaim his spot in the Australian Test team for the upcoming Ashes series. "When you’ve been short of runs, it doesn’t matter where you score them; you just want to be out there in the middle getting that feel," Labuschagne told cricket.com.au.

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne is ready to modify his game to once again play Test cricket, even if it means giving up his long-cherished No. 3 spot to open the batting in the Ashes.

The 31-year-old has not played for the Test side since the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, after having a poor run between December 2022 and March this year, averaging just 33.08 in the Test arena. This decline in form was the reason for Labuschagne’s omission from the West Indies series earlier this year, his first omission since he made his place in the side in 2019.

Due to Labuschagne’s absence, Cameron Green was promoted to No. 3 and had some success in difficult conditions in the Caribbean, scoring 184 runs at an average of just over 30 in six innings. With Green continuing to embrace the No. 3 spot, and young opener Sam Konstas with 50 in six innings, selectors could call on Labuschagne to fill the top order void.

Labuschagne, who opened in the WTC final against South Africa, scoring 17 and 22, says he is ready for the challenge. “I would be happy to do that – I would love to. If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that’s fine,” he told News Corp. “I’ve batted at three my whole career, but at this stage you don’t get a choice. I got in during the final but didn’t go on with it.”

ALSO SEE: White Ferns all-rounder Thamsyn Newton announces retirement

Determined Labuschagne Eyes Ashes Return After Period of Reflection

His time out of the Test side has given him a rare opportunity to reflect and work intensively on his game without the pressure of immediate performance. “It’s something I thrive on proving the doubters wrong,” Labuschagne said. “Missing those West Indies Tests gave me the chance to think, ‘This is where I want to be and this is how I’m going to get there.’”

The Queenslander remains part of Australia’s ODI setup and could feature in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. He will also have three Sheffield Shield games before the Ashes squad is named in mid-November, a key window to push for his recall. If form and opportunity align, Labuschagne’s path back to the Baggy Green may well begin at the very top of the order.

Australia has made dramatic changes to their Test team for the forthcoming West Indies series, with two of their most seasoned batters missing the first match. Veteran Steve Smith has been sidelined for the opening Test with a finger injury, while Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped following a string of underwhelming performances. These changes come as Australia starts a new cycle of the World Test Championship and sets its sights on reshaping the central group of players.

With Smith out, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been brought in to replace him. Inglis, who made an impression with a century on his Test debut in Sri Lanka, will look to cement his place. In the meantime, the exclusion of Labuschagne follows a period of persistent decline in form, topped by poor performances in the World Test Championship Final. Rising star Sam Konstas, aged only 19, has been chosen as his replacement. Konstas only made headlines recently with a blistering 60 against India, admired for his attacking strokeplay and maturity.

Chief selector George Bailey clarified that the door remains open for Labuschagne, stating, “Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team … we will continue working with him.” He also mentioned that Smith’s finger injury will be reassessed before the second Test in Grenada. The first Test is set to begin on June 25 in Barbados, followed by matches in Grenada and Trinidad.

Australia’s new Test phase begins in the Caribbean

With several experienced players sidelined, this series offers a fresh start for Australia as they transition towards a younger core. The addition of Konstas and Inglis is a move toward recognizing domestic form and looking toward challenges ahead, including the upcoming Ashes.

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This reshuffled squad brings both uncertainty and potential. Fans will certainly miss the services of stalwarts such as Smith and Labuschagne, but the West Indies tour is an opportunity for the next generation of players to come forward and leave their mark in the longest version of the game.

Australia’s batting unit is set for a shake-up following their defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, with Marnus Labuschagne’s place under serious threat and Usman Khawaja likely to retain his spot heading into the Ashes later this year.

Head coach Andrew McDonald and the selectors are expected to decide within the next 48 hours whether reinforcements are needed for the upcoming three-Test series in the West Indies. A major talking point is the possible return of 19-year-old Sam Konstas at the top of the order, with Labuschagne’s underwhelming form adding weight to the call for change.

Labuschagne, who was elevated to open for the first time in his Test career at Lord’s, managed only 17 and 22 in the two innings, capping off a disappointing WTC cycle in which he averaged just 27.82. The move was made to accommodate Cameron Green at No. 3, but with Steven Smith nursing a finger injury, Labuschagne may still retain his place, though even that seems far from guaranteed.

"He's missed out on big scores," McDonald said after the final. “We’re confident he can return to his best, and that’s why we keep picking him. But at what point do we stop picking him?” Despite the underwhelming returns, McDonald stressed that Labuschagne remains a key part of Australia's long-term plans. "Anyone who averages 45 or 46 in Test cricket at that age is important. He’s had a positive week in terms of preparation, no harder worker than Marnus, but now it’s really just about the returns."

ALSO SEE: ENG vs IND: Robin Uthappa shares his predicted playing XI ahead of series

Selectors Show Faith in Khawaja, but Labuschagne’s Test Future Hangs in the Balance Ahead of West Indies Tour

In contrast, Khawaja, despite falling cheaply twice to Kagiso Rabada at Lord’s, has earned the selectors’ backing. The veteran opener, who scored a career-best 232 against Sri Lanka just three Tests ago, appears to have the kind of stability and experience the team values, even amid questions around his effectiveness against pace.

“He’s on contract, he’s an important player,” McDonald reiterated. “We like to look at our players at their best… I don’t see an end date for him. He’s still moving well, still training hard, and has runs left in him.” Khawaja is expected to get the same long rope David Warner received during the twilight of his Test career.

Meanwhile, the squad could also see some reshuffling depending on conditions in the Caribbean. Josh Inglis, who scored a hundred on debut, could be considered in spin-friendly situations, while Travis Head may again be viewed as a potential opener on slower surfaces. However, McDonald was quick to emphasise that Australia would look to strike a balance between future planning for the Ashes and adapting to local conditions in the West Indies.

“We haven’t played a Test there since 2015,” he said. “So there’s a little bit of the unknown. But we feel we’ve got a squad that can cover all bases.” Despite the batting concerns, McDonald made it clear that Australia’s shortcomings at Lord’s were not restricted to the top order. “We lost 5 for 20 in the first innings and 7 wickets for not many in the second. That’s 12 wickets for not much. We’re better than that.”

As Australia prepares to begin a new WTC cycle in the Caribbean, all eyes will be on how the selectors respond to the latest setback and whether this marks the beginning of a transitional phase in the batting order.

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma was mobilizing well against Australia until Marnus Labuschagne pulled out a blinder at the cover region. Bamuva connected with the ball in the middle of his bat; the connection was on point, and the ball was about to go through the cover, but there was Marnus, always an electrifying presence on the field, doing an unthinkable job on a Pat Cummins over.

He threw his body at the right side and grabbed the ball low before a blink of an eye. Temba Bavuma departed after scoring 36 off 84 balls. The right-handed batter took an attacking approach against the fiery Australian bowling combination from the beginning of Day 2, and he succeeded in his plan for a while.

On Day 1, when the defending champion side picked up 4 wickets before the stumps, Bavuma was all about defense. On Day 2, a completely different approach from him: counterattack to oppose an attack. The SA leader hit 4 glorious fours and one maximum during his 84-ball stint. 

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Josh Hazlewood also troubled Temba Bavuma 

Before that stunning catch, Bamuva narrowly escaped an LBW just because of the Decision Review System. Bavuma, then on 17, and South Africa, on 66 for the loss of 4 wickets, signaled for a decision review. After recapping the incident on screen with the help of high-tech technologies, the third umpire reversed the decision and decided to announce "not out" to the Protean skipper, and thus how Temba Bavuma has survived. Apart from the DRS moment, Bavuma's innings was a display of the class he possessed. He played some pure cricketing shots on the lush grass field of the Lord's, which were pure joy to watch. 

Before the launch, South Africa lost 5 wickets for 121. David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne were on the crease with 39 and 11 runs, respectively. 

Watch the stunning catch here

 

 

 

 

 

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Expectations are high around Marnus Labuschagne, as Cricket Australia has shown full faith in him for the World Test Championship Final (WTC Final) against South Africa at Lord's over Sam Konstas. Two batters were in the race for an opening spot to pair up with Usman Khawaja.

Before the all-important Test match, Marnus Labuschagne won the hearts of his fans outside the stadium. The heartfelt moment was captured in the lens and shared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from the official Instagram account. Marnus Labuschagne is the central character in the video, with AB de Villiers featured as a father of two kids.

The former South African cricketer was waiting outside the stadium with his kids for the Australian star cricketer Marnus Labuschagne. The SA cricket legend's children are fans of the Aussie batter. So, they shouted 'Marnus' to grab his autograph on the jersey.

Read More: WATCH: Indian team shares light moments during catching practice ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 Test series

"I was there not a long ago"

Villiers was standing just behind his boys patiently, just like any father. After the autograph, Labuschagne and Villiers had a handshake and exchange of warm gestures. 

Later, the former South African cricketer said, "I've got my two boys here, and we saw Marnus Labuschagne earlier, and he straightaway came to us and started signing the boys' shirts. I was just standing there, sort of from an outsider's point of view, really appreciating that little moment, you know, because I was there not long ago. And now to see as a father what it means for the kids to get their shirts autographed. I mean, really, really special moment."

Watch the heart touching moment here

 

 

 

 

 

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The 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final is upon us as South Africa and Australia gear up to lock horns against one another at the iconic Lord’s, London, starting June 11, 2025. The Proteas, under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, topped the charts with 69.44 percentage points while the defending champions gained 67.54 percentage points without even losing a series. 

The two-year cycle has seen a plethora of scintillating matches between numerous oppositions, with some of the arch-rival nations fueling the contests to a greater extent. It doesn’t happen without noticeable performances from the cricketers, who are the heart and soul of this entire game. There have been numerous batting performances that have often left the spectators in awe. Although it’s a tough job to filter out the best, we at Cricket Winner have analysed to the best of our ability and came up with the top five knocks in the WTC 2023-25 cycle.

Ollie Pope’s 196 vs India in Hyderabad

England’s tour to India in the early 2024 edition was worth the hype as the Men in Blue looked to face off against an England unit that changed the style of Test cricket. The focus was on Bazball’s domination in world cricket, with the Indian subcontinent being one of the dynasties left unconquered. Although the English revolution under the coach-captain duo of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes failed in one of their toughest challenges, Ollie Pope’s 196 in the first Test in Hyderabad gave the visitors an upper hand at the start of the five-match series.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, England's batting order felt the heat produced by Jasprit Bumrah and the spin triumvirate of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, folding for 246 runs. In reply, India earned a 174-run lead on the back of eighties from Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Jadeja. Despite being on the back foot halfway through the innings, Ollie Pope showcased what he is capable of with the willow. 

Stepping foot in unfamiliar territory, the right-handed batter smashed 196 runs off 278 balls in the third innings of the match. To be able to battle the Indian spinners at their home is an uphill task. But Pope proved why he is rated so highly in England. All it took was a special smearing yorker from Bumrah to rattle his stumps, leaving four runs shy of a double century. Without an iota of doubt, this had to be Pope’s best innings away from home. His 196 led the foundation for a 28-run victory, albeit England failed to capitalise on the start, losing the series 4-1.

Also Read: 'If we win it...' - Former Proteas star reveal what Test championship glory would mean for South Africa

Marnus Labuschagne’s 111 vs England in Manchester

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne didn’t quite have a great start to the year 2023. He was left out of Australia’s Cricket World Cup squad, only to return as a replacement to injured Ashton Agar and play a pivotal role in the final against India. Previously, he was also under the radar after a series of poor outings with the bat in the Ashes. 

For someone who followed Marnus’ career graph, he is known to silence the doubters with his performances whenever required. This is exactly what happened during the fourth Test of the Ashes at Old Trafford, Manchester.

After securing a fifty with Mitchell Marsh and propelling Australia to 317 in the first innings, Zak Crawley’s 189 and England’s middle-order prowess left the visitors trailing by 275 runs. This was when Labuschagne stood tall after the visitors lost the wickets of Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, and Travis Head in quick time. On a start-stop fourth day due to incessant showers, Labuschagne’s grit was on full display. He was scratchy at the start but ensured to overcome adversity and stand tall with 111 runs off 173 balls with ten fours and a couple of sixes. Although the match ended in a draw, Labuschagne played one of his best knocks in an away Ashes under difficult conditions, rubbishing the critics.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 161 vs Australia in Perth

India stepped onto the Australian shores on the back of a record whitewash at home by a New Zealand blended with youth and experience. With their World Test Championship chances jeopardised and captain Rohit Sharma absent due to paternal leave for the opening Test, they needed someone to stand up with the bat in Perth. Known for its pace and steep bounce, the venue is known to be one of the graveyards for the batters, who often test their skills and mental ability. 

Stepping foot for the first time as a capped cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, bounced back in the second innings in his trademark style. Known for his hunger for runs, Jaiswal went on to notch up his maiden century down under, scoring 161 off 297 balls. He was well accompanied by KL Rahul’s 77 and Virat Kohli’s unbridled century, setting up India’s 295-run victory to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.

Harry Brook’s 171 in Christchurch

Arriving on the shores of New Zealand for a three-match Test series, England were oozing in confidence as BazBall yielded positive results across conditions. What looked like a tough test at the start turned out to be a cakewalk for the Three Lions as the Kiwis could only win the dead rubber. However, the convincing series triumph was set up by an extraordinary display of batting from Harry Brook.

Touted as the next big thing from English cricket, Brook arrived at the crease when the team was reeling at 45/3 in their first innings. Trailing by 303 runs, England incurred another setback when a well-set Ben Duckett departed for 46. Under gloomy conditions, strong breeze, and the ball laterally moving, Brook held his fort with grit. After a tough phase of play that saw him get two catching reprieves, Brook converted his steady fifty into a century, and went on to muster 171 runs off 197 balls. Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes’ fifties assisted his well-tailored knock that helped England reach 499 runs, setting up a comprehensive win by eight wickets. 

Before this, Brook was well-known for his heroics at home. But the New Zealand tour saw the first of the young bloke dominate a SINA (South Africa, India, New Zealand, and Australia as a whole) opposition.

KL Rahul’s 101 vs South Africa in Centurion

Not many cricketers get to create history by racking up a Boxing Day century. The day after Christmas is also renowned as the start of the Boxing Day Tests in Australia, South Africa, and a few other nations. It marks a special occasion where, back in old school cricket, rich guests used to offer gifts to the middle and lower-middle class. Although it has little to do with the Test cricket matches now, the tradition has often led to a jam-packed crowd and unreal anticipation for the game. This is when Rahul’s 101 under adverse conditions at Centurion came up for India in 2023.

Trying to make a mark in the first of the two-match Test series, India lost their top three early in the innings before Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer’s brief stay was put to rest by Kagiso Rabada. With India 121/6 in the second session, Rahul took his time to settle but didn’t hesitate to punish the looseners. Playing with the lower order, he quickly moved to fifty under overcast conditions. 

Donning his new role as a make-shift wicketkeeper and batting at No. 6, clarity was written across his face while playing the strokes against the viscous Proteas bowlers at their den. Following Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah’s departures, he forged a 47-run ninth-wicket partnership with Mohammed Siraj, where the latter contributed only five runs. Soon after, the Karnataka star switched gears and smoked a few boundaries to push the opposition on the back, and get to his second Test century at the venue. 

Although Nandre Burger knocked his stumps in the 68th over, Rahul’s 101 was a testament to the orthodox batting skills, grit, and game awareness that the red-ball format demands. Though India were doused by Dean Elgar’s batting brilliance in the match, Rahul’s 101 as the lone warrior of the team deserved applause from the cricket pundits and the fans.

Honourable mention: Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 114 vs Australia at the MCG in 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy.