Marnus Labuschagne Wants to Prove Doubters Wrong as He Eyes Test Return

Despite his recent poor form, Marnus Labuschagne is still the third-highest run-scorer in the WTC era, having scored 4,225 runs in 53 matches.

Marnus Labuschagne Wants to Prove Doubters Wrong as He Eyes Test Return

Marnus Labuschagne is vying to make his return to the Australian Test team. (Image via ICC.com)

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Out-of-form Australian Test star Marnus Labuschagne is hoping to make his return to the national red-ball side, as well as its playing XI, ahead of the upcoming Ashes. The 31-year-old has even expressed his willingness to open the batting for Australia if it secures him a place in the playing XI.

Marnus Labuschagne has been one of players, whom fans have seen drop from the very top to a significant low over the past few years. A red-ball star, who was once the ICC No. 1-ranked Test batter, has now been struggling, and most recently saw himself getting dropped from the team during Australia’s recently concluded tour to West Indies. Labuschagne has not scored a Test century since July 2023.

For a player with a Test batting average still over 50 and with over 4,400 runs in the format for Australia, this marks an unusually long rough patch. His recent form has been subpar, with his average dropping from 35 in 2023 to 16 in 2025, and his conversion rate declining from 48 percent to 29 percent. Despite being recalled late to the squad against West Indies, Marnus has struggled to make it into the playing XI.

One of the main reasons for Labuschagne’s decline is believed to be a change in his batting position, as all-rounder Cameron Green has emerged as a more reliable option at No. 3. All of it has left him with limited options, as he most recently expressed his willingness to play as an opener, despite having batted at no. 3 throughout the majority of his career. He could get an opportunity to open the innings, replacing the young out-of-form Sam Konstas.

If opener is where I need to bat to be playing in the Test team, that’s fine. If you had asked me where I prefer to bat obviously I have batted at three my whole career, but at this stage you don’t get a choice.

Marnus Labuschagne said to News Corp (H/T: ESPN)

Furthermore, the Queensland-born player revealed that after the West Indies series, he had the choice of either playing County cricket or joining the Australia ‘A’ squad. Labuschagne, however, stated that he ended up staying in Brisbane, training extensively, aiming to make a full return to the Australian Test setup.

This [being left out] has given me an opportunity to reflect and not having the pressure of the media saying, ‘Marnus has got to go’.

With Marnus having stated his readiness to open the innings, it remains to be seen if Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, slots him into the top order, especially after his failure at the 2025 World Test Championship final. Labuschagne had opened with Travis Head in both innings against South Africa, but he only scored 17 and 22 runs, respectively, as Australia ultimately lost that match by five wickets.

The future for Marnus Labuschagne remains uncertain ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes against England, which begins on November 21. He is, however, set to return to Australia’s ODI squad later this month for their white-ball series against South Africa.

Marnus Labuschagne Returns to ODI Squad, Mitchell Marsh to Captain Against South Africa

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne will make his return to the Australian ODI squad for the team’s first 50-over series since the 2025 Champions Trophy. The 15-man squad, which was announced earlier, will be led by Mitchell Marsh in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins.

Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne
Mitchell Marsh will lead Australia’s ODI squad against South Africa, while Marnus Labuschagne will return to the squad. (via ABC News)

Marnus Labuschagne last played for the Aussie One-Day side in the Champions Trophy, where he had a quiet outing, scoring only 76 runs in two innings as his team was knocked out by India in the semi-finals. Steve Smith, however, has been left out of the squad as he is busy playing for Welsh Fire in The Hundred. Among the debutants, Mitchell Owen will make his ODI debut after recently impressing in the T20I side.

Meanwhile, Cummins and Mitchell Starc will miss the three-match ODI series against the Proteas as they have been rested in preparation for the upcoming 2025-26 Ashes. Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood are the top names who will be making a return to the squad for this white-ball series.

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