Australia’s batsman Matt Renshaw has been given an opportunity at the international level after being out of action for over two years. However, Marnus Labuschagne has been excluded from both the ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming home series against India.
Renshaw, who last played a Test match in February 2023 against India, is set to make his ODI debut at the age of 29. He has been in excellent form for Queensland and Australia A, showcasing his talent with notable performances. Recently, he scored a century in the initial match of the Sheffield Shield season and amassed 248 runs in three one-day matches for Australia A against Sri Lanka in July.
Labuschagne, Renshaw’s Queensland teammate, has been left out of the squads for the upcoming series against India in Australia. Despite his impressive batting performance of 160 runs from 206 balls in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania and a quick 130 runs from 118 balls in a One-Day Cup game against Victoria last month, Labuschagne will not be part of the upcoming matches.
Chair of selectors George Bailey mentioned the importance of managing players’ workload ahead of a busy schedule in the coming months. With the Ashes series against England starting on November 21, Labuschagne is expected to return to the squad, aiming to regain his form after a lean international run.
Bailey emphasized the significance of maintaining a balance between preparing for the World Cup and the upcoming Test series. Mitchell Starc, who recently retired from T20 cricket, has been included in the ODI squad. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell is recovering from a broken wrist, and Cameron Green will focus on his Test preparations with Western Australia after participating in the ODI series against India.
The Australia ODI squad for the series includes Mitchell Marsh as captain, along with a mix of experienced and young talents. The T20 squad for the initial games features Mitchell Marsh as the captain, with notable players selected to build towards the upcoming World Cup.