{
  "id": 4747960,
  "title": "Labuschagne axed: Australia make five changes for ODI series vs. South Africa and Zimbabwe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/labuschagne-axed-australia-make-five-changes-for-odi-series-vs-south",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-01T00:20:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/labuschagne-axed-australia-five-changes-002047841.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia's ODI squad for their upcoming tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. This comes after a disappointing performance in the recent tour of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The five players who have been left out include Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, Liam Scott, and Labuschagne himself. In their place, Victorian teenager Ollie Peake and NSW all-rounder Joel Davies have been given opportunities to impress. The selectors, headed by George Bailey, emphasized the importance of this six-game series as a lead-in to the World Cup. Bailey stated that the tour will feature a mix of core players and those who have the potential to make an impact. The Australian team will play three ODIs against Zimbabwe, followed by three against South Africa. The squad includes Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, and Mitchell Starc.",
  "summary": "Twelve months out from the World Cup, the writing is on the wall for Marnus Labuschagne after he was axed from Australia's ODI squad for tour Zimbabwe and South Africa.",
  "key_points": [
    "Marnus Labuschagne dropped from Australia's ODI squad",
    "Victorian Ollie Peake and NSW Joel Davies selected",
    "Series leads into upcoming World Cup"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Australia's squad overhaul signals a shift in selection priorities ahead of the World Cup, with younger players like Ollie Peake and Joel Davies being given a chance to stake their claim.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "When does Australia play South Africa and Zimbabwe? Full ODI, Test match schedule for 2026 cricket tour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/when-does-australia-play-south-africa-and-zimbabwe-full-odi-test",
        "published": "2026-09-01T02:31:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}