Australia has announced that former No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for selection for the upcoming four-match ICC World Test Championship series against New Zealand.

Selection Chair George Bailey stated on Monday that the team won't be considering Labuschagne for selection for "certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series." Bailey noted that there has been a lot of speculation regarding Labuschagne's place in the team, and stated that the decision gives the player a little bit of space and clears up conjecture as the team works through the next round of Shield cricket.

The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled for form recently, managing only 131 runs from six innings during Australia's recent three-game series in South Africa. Labuschagne has not scored a Test century since 2023. This marks a decline from 2021, when he reached the pinnacle of the sport as the No.1 batter in the world; he is currently ranked equal 40th in that category.

Bailey suggested that the door remains open for Labuschagne to return to the Test side in the future, particularly with a tour to India and a visit to England scheduled for 2027. Bailey said, "It's still possible, absolutely," and added that while everyone knows how good and effective Labuschagne can be at his best, that performance hasn't been there. Bailey stated that Labuschagne missed opportunities and promising starts in Darwin and South Africa to achieve the big scores the team would have liked, but emphasized that the team has never ruled anyone out permanently.

Australia currently sits in third place on the World Test Championship standings. The team is seeking positive results against New Zealand to boost their chances of reaching the final at The Oval in June of next year. Australia also has a five-match series with India in the sub-continent at the start of next year, followed by a battle for The Ashes against England in the middle of 2027.

The squad for the New Zealand series has not yet been named. Bailey indicated that a handful of players currently outside the Test setup are well placed and are putting their hand up for selection as the team works to finalize the squad structure over the next week or so.

The series schedule is as follows:

First Test: December 9-13, Perth

Second Test: December 17-21, Adelaide

Third Test: December 26-30, Melbourne

Fourth Test: January 4-8, Sydney