Australia's ODI Shake-Up: A Veteran Dropped and New Faces Emerge

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-01

Cricket Australia's selectors just made some bold moves, and it's got everyone talking. They've named 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. Experienced batter Marnus Labuschagne has been left out, a decision that signals a real shift in thinking. Instead of the familiar name, they're turning to youth. Young prospects Joel Davies and Ollie Peake have earned their spots, injecting some fresh energy into the lineup. It's a classic case of out with the old, in with the new—or at least, that's the gamble they're taking. Leadership will be split too, with Mitchell Marsh captaining in Zimbabwe before regular skipper Pat Cummins joins up for the South Africa leg. ### Why Labuschagne Was Dropped Let's be honest, the numbers tell a tough story. Australia decided to drop Marnus Labuschagne after a string of low scores that just couldn't be ignored. The 32-year-old middle-order batter really struggled on those recent tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh. We're talking only 24 runs total across three matches against Pakistan. And in Bangladesh? Just one half-century in three tries. When you average 21.87 over your last 18 ODI innings, the selectors have to make a call. They're clearly looking ahead, building a side for the next World Cup. Selection chief George Bailey was quick to point out this is just for the one-day format, but still—it's a significant demotion for a player of his caliber. ### The New Talent Stepping Up So, who gets the nod? Australia's gone for younger batters to fill the void. Twenty-two-year-old Joel Davies from New South Wales gets his first-ever ODI call-up, which is huge. He'd already turned heads during his international T20 debut in Bangladesh, taking three wickets for just 17 runs with his left-arm spin. Now he gets a shot at the 50-over game. Then there's 19-year-old Victorian Ollie Peake, who keeps his place after debuting back in May. Selector George Bailey had nothing but praise for both, highlighting their growth and raw potential. It feels like they're being groomed for the long haul. And don't forget Cooper Connolly. He stays in the squad after a blistering 149 runs in that third ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. He also gives the team a handy second left-arm spin option, which is never a bad thing. ### Other Squad Changes and Returns Labuschagne wasn't the only one left at home. Four other players from the recent tours—Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, and Liam Scott—also missed selection. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was left out too, making Adam Zampa the lone specialist spinner in the 17-man group. But it's not all about who's missing. Some key players are making a welcome return. Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh are back to open the batting after skipping the previous tours. And the star bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will rejoin, though they're only slated for the three matches in South Africa. Australia's clearly banking on pace for the African pitches. Josh Hazlewood is set for both series, Spencer Johnson returns from a long injury layoff, and Billy Stanlake finally gets his international recall after a lengthy wait. It's a powerful fast-bowling group, no doubt about it. ### The Captaincy Plan Who's steering the ship? Mitchell Marsh will have the captain's armband for the Zimbabwe matches. Then, Pat Cummins will take over leadership duties when they hit South Africa. It's interesting—Cummins has only played two ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, but Bailey seems confident in the team's leadership depth. He probably has a point; having multiple leaders ready to step up is never a weakness. All in all, this squad announcement feels like a statement. It's about balancing experience with exciting new talent, and planning not just for the next series, but for the future. Dropping a veteran like Labuschagne is a tough call, but sometimes you have to make those decisions to move forward. Now we get to see if the new generation can seize their opportunity.