Australia's ODI Shakeup: A Veteran Dropped, New Faces Emerge

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-01

Cricket Australia selectors just made some big calls, and they're sending a clear message about the future. They announced a 17-man squad for the upcoming One-Day International tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, and the biggest headline is who's *not* on the list. They've left out the experienced batter Marnus Labuschagne. Instead, they're looking to the next generation. Young talents Joel Davies and Ollie Peake have earned their spots. It's a shift that feels significant, doesn't it? Like they're building something new. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side in Zimbabwe, with the regular skipper, Pat Cummins, joining up for the South Africa leg. ### Why Labuschagne Was Left Out Let's talk about that omission, because it's a tough one. Australia decided to drop Marnus Labuschagne after a string of low scores. The 32-year-old middle-order batter has really struggled lately. On recent tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh, he just couldn't find his rhythm. He scored only 24 runs across three matches against Pakistan. And in Bangladesh, he managed just one half-century in three tries. When you look at the numbers, it's stark: he's averaging a mere 21.87 over his last 18 ODI innings. The selectors had a choice, and they chose to look ahead, prioritizing a stronger build-up to the next World Cup. Selection chief George Bailey was quick to note this only affects one-day cricket for now. ### The New Faces Getting Their Chance So, who steps into those shoes? They're turning to youth. 22-year-old Joel Davies from New South Wales got his first-ever ODI call-up. He's a left-arm spinner who turned heads during his international T20 debut in Bangladesh, taking three wickets for just 17 runs. This is his big moment. Then there's 19-year-old Ollie Peake from Victoria. He keeps his place after debuting in May during the Pakistan tour. Bailey praised both for their growth and raw potential. It's a real vote of confidence in the system. And let's not forget Cooper Connolly. He stays in the squad after a monster performance—a brilliant 149 runs in the third ODI against Bangladesh. He gives the team another valuable left-arm spin option. ### Other Squad Changes and Returning Stars Labuschagne wasn't the only one to miss out. Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, Liam Scott, and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were also left off the list. That means Adam Zampa is the lone specialist spinner in the 17-man group. But there's good news, too. Some key players are coming back. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will reunite at the top of the order after missing the last tours. And the star bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will rejoin the team for the South Africa matches. Australia is loading up on pace for the African conditions. Josh Hazlewood will play in both series, Spencer Johnson returns from a long injury layoff, and Billy Stanlake finally gets another international shot after a long wait. ### Who's Leading the Side? The captaincy has a split schedule. Mitchell Marsh will lead the team in Zimbabwe. Then, in South Africa, Pat Cummins will take over the leadership duties. Cummins has only played two ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, but Bailey expressed full confidence in the team's leadership depth. It's a squad that balances experience with a bold injection of youth. They're making a bet on the future while keeping enough proven winners around to guide the way. The full 17-man squad is built for this specific challenge, and all eyes will be on how these new combinations click.