An emerging star of Australian cricket will travel to South Africa ahead of the highly-anticipated Test tour, but World Cup winning batter Marnus Labuschagne has been axed from the one-day international squad.
With a World Cup defence just a year away, the Australian selection panel has reacted to a testing subcontinent tour against Pakistan and Bangladesh by axing five players, including Labuschagne, for the ODI tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
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Victorian teenager Ollie Peake will get his chance to impress in Africa just weeks out from the Test tour, and just a year before a World Cup on the continent, after being selected alongside Joel Davies for the three games against Zimbabwe this month.
Champion bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have signalled their intention to be firing by the Test team, and to also feature in the 2027 World Cup, with confirmation they will feature in ODIs against South Africa preceding the Tests.
It is a significant concern for Labuschagne, who made an unbeaten 58 in the ODI World Cup final against India in 2023, given the Test squad selection is just around the corner.
But his highest score since then was an unbeaten 77 in England two years ago, while he made just one half-century in the series in Pakistan and Bangladesh midway through the year.
Joining Labuschagne as casualties from the ODI tour of Pakistan and Bangladesh in late May and early June are Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy and Liam Scott.
Chairman of selectors George Bailey said the tour would provide critical information as Australia looks to find a team capable of defending the World Cup in won in famous fashion in India in 2023.
“This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year’s World Cup, being played in the same countries, for the group,” he said.
“As such it’s great to have Mitch (Marsh), Travis and Josh returning, then Pat and Mitch (Starc) for the SA leg. This gives us our core of players mixed with some we think will continue to make an impression.
“For Ollie and Joel, who we rate very highly, it’s another fantastic opportunity and a further chance for them to continue their exposure and growth in the Australian team.”
Labuschagne facing axe after Bangladesh | 01:06
Mitch Marsh will captain the side in the matches against Zimbabwe, with he and Cummins set to share leadership duties in South Africa as the Aussies seek to find their best form in the format.
They were beaten 2-1 by Bangladesh in the longer white ball format in June, which followed a similar scoreline against Pakistan in late May.
The only ODI series the Aussies have won since defeated England 3-2 late in a northern summer in 2024 was against India in 2025/26, with losses preceding the two most recent series defeats coming against South Africa and Sri Lanka as well.
Australia – Zimbabwe and South Africa ODI Series
Xavier Bartlett (QLD/Gold Coast Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club)
Joel Davies (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (TAS/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Spencer Johnson (SA/West Torrens Cricket Club)
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)
Oliver Peake (VIC/Geelong Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul Cricket Club)
Billy Stanlake (TAS/Greater Northern Raiders Cricket Club)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (QLD/Sutherland Cricket Club)
