Marnus Labuschagne: The Australian batsman has been left out of their 23-member squad for the tour of West Indies.
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Australia National Selector Trevor Hohns has revealed that batsman Marnus Labuschagne is “deeply upset” after being left out of Australia’s 23-member white-ball squad for the tour of West Indies.
“Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control,” Hohns said in a statement published on cricket.com.au.
Yet to debut for Australia in the shortest format, Labuschagne has scored 473 runs in 12 ODI innings at an average and strike rate of 39.41 and 91.13 respectively which includes a century and three half-centuries.
In his last ODI against India in Canberra last year, Labuschagne had also opened the batting alongside captain Aaron Finch after David Warner was out injured.
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Currently representing Glamorgan in the ongoing season of County Championship, Labuschagne has managed 33 runs in four innings at an average of 8.25. With the 26-year old player set to represent the club across formats, it ended becoming a hindrance for him with respect to traveling to West Indies amid a global pandemic.
Why is Marnus Labuschagne not part of Australia’s squad for West Indies tour?
Further speaking on the matter, Hohns explained how Labuschagne remaining in the UK was “more practical” after multiple discussions and how the right-hand batsman would have made it to the squad had it not been for logistical reasons due to COVID-19.
“We worked through numerous options in conversations with Marnus [Labuschagne] to find a workable solution but ultimately came to the conclusion it was more practical for him to remain in the UK.
“Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side. It’s an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now,” Hohns said.
Labuschagne, who had registered an impressive all-round show for Brisbane Heat in Big Bash League 2020-21, would be looking forward to T20 Blast to prove his skills in the T20 format in an ICC T20 World Cup year.
“As it stands, Marnus has the opportunity to continue in County Cricket and T20 games with Glamorgan as we head into the World Cup and home summer,” Hohns concluded.
Other than Labuschagne, the likes of Cameron Green (strong pre-season with Western Australia), Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner and Daniel Sams (health and well-being grounds) have also been left out due to various reasons.
