Marnus Labuschagne not part of Australia’s extended squad for ODI World Cup | Cricket News

Marnus Labuschagne‘s hopes of playing in the ODI World Cup have been dashed as he was not included in Australia‘s extended 18-member squad for the prestigious tournament in India later this year.

Cricket Australia announced that uncapped players, leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie, have been given the opportunity in the squad, which will eventually be reduced to 15 players.

The first challenge for the team led by Pat Cummins will be a five-match series in South Africa in September, as revealed by the cricket board in a statement on Monday.

Labuschagne, who has been an integral part of the Australian team with 30 appearances since his debut in early 2020, played a key role in their victory in a three-match series in India in March this year.
Among the seam-bowling all-rounders, the squad includes Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott, while Ashton Agar and Tanveer Sangha join Adam Zampa as the spin options.
Skipper Cummins will, however, miss the upcoming three-match T20 series in South Africa due to a wrist injury he sustained during the recent Ashes series.

“We view a period of enforced rest for Pat as a positive ahead of this important World Cup campaign,” Australia’s selection chair George Bailey said in a statement.
“There are still a number of games he could play before the World Cup which is more than enough for him to have a strong preparation.”
In Cummins’s absence, Mitchell Marsh will take charge and lead the Australian team during the T20 series in South Africa.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will be unavailable for the ODIs in South Africa as he awaits the arrival of his first child. However, he is expected to rejoin the team for the three-match ODI series in India in September.

(AI image)
The five-time champions Australia will kickstart their World Cup journey with a highly anticipated match against hosts India in Chennai on October 8th.
Australia’s extended squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa