Marnus Labuschagne has named players who could potentially replace him at No. 3 during the upcoming New Zealand Tests.

Labuschagne has fallen out of favour with the national selectors after struggling to deliver consistent performances in recent assignments.

Australia‘s preparations for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand have taken an interesting turn following the exclusion of experienced batter Marnus Labuschagne. The right-handed batter, who has been a regular presence in Australia’s middle order for several years, has fallen out of favour with the national selectors after struggling to deliver consistent performances in recent assignments. His disappointing returns against Bangladesh and South Africa have raised concerns over his form, prompting the selection committee, led by George Bailey, to look at alternative options ahead of the New Zealand series.

Labuschagne’s struggles have been evident in his recent numbers. He managed just 36 runs at an average of 12 against Bangladesh before scoring 131 runs at 21.83 during Australia’s tour of South Africa. Moreover, the Queenslander has gone 49 Test innings without a century, with his last hundred coming during the 2023 Ashes in Manchester. Despite the setback, the experienced batter remains determined to work his way back into Australia’s red-ball setup.

Marnus Labuschagne remains optimistic about Test comeback

Speaking at the Gabba ahead of Queensland’s upcoming Sheffield Shield clash, Labuschagne expressed confidence in his ability to regain his place in the national side. Although he acknowledged that there was no certainty regarding the timing of his return, the 31-year-old insisted that representing Australia in Test cricket remained one of his biggest ambitions.

“I have done it before, and I have got no doubt I will be back there. When? Who knows, but that is the aspiration and desire,” Labuschagne said.

The Australian batter further emphasised that his immediate priority was to contribute to Queensland’s success in domestic cricket. As captain, he wants to make an impact across different aspects of the game rather than allow speculation surrounding his international future to affect his performances.

“Right now, my feet are firmly fixed here with Queensland and doing whatever I can as a captain, batter, in the field and with the ball to help us win games,” he added.

Labuschagne identifies three contenders for Australia’s No. 3 position

Meanwhile, Labuschagne also shared his thoughts on the players who could potentially replace him at No. 3 during the upcoming New Zealand Tests. The Queensland captain identified Jack Clayton, Sam Konstas and Kurtis Patterson as possible candidates, highlighting the batting talent available across Australia’s domestic circuit.

“There are some candidates; the likes of Jack Clayton has scored some runs in the last two Shield games, and is batting beautifully. Sam Konstas scored some runs, there’s a lot of good batters around the country, Kurtis Patterson has scored some runs in the last few years (too),” Labuschagne explained.

However, he acknowledged that the selectors could also consider reshuffling the existing batting order rather than introducing a new player.

Labuschagne reserved special praise for Clayton, who has impressed with his recent Sheffield Shield performances. He also expressed his willingness to guide the youngster through the increased attention surrounding his potential international selection. Describing Clayton as a talented cricketer and a promising individual, Labuschagne made it clear that he would continue supporting his Queensland teammate.