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June 20, 2025

Smith ruled out, Labuschagne dropped as Australia announce fresh faces

Smith ruled out, Labuschagne dropped as Australia announce fresh faces
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Australia have declared the major modifications in their squad before the new series of Tests, whereby Steve Smith has been ruled out because of injury and Marnus Labuschagne has been left out due to loss of form.

Smith, who has been dealing with lingering back soreness, was not deemed fit for selection. Team officials confirmed the 35-year-old will undergo further assessment and recovery in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Labuschagne — who has averaged just 25.4 across his last 10 Test innings — has been dropped, marking the first time in four years that he’s been left out of Australia’s red-ball squad.

The selectors have instead picked young talent Will Pucovski and an all-rounder, Aaron Hardie who has been considered as a potential long-term solution. The last player on the list, Pucovski, last played Test cricket in early 2021 before taking an extended break because of concussion problems but performed well recently on the domestic scene. Hardie, on the other hand, adds balance with his ability to bat in the middle order and contribute with the ball.

Chief selector George Bailey said: “These decisions weren’t easy. Marnus is still in our long-term plans, but we felt it was time to reward domestic performances.”

Australia's Test squad is set to face a strong England side next, with the first match beginning on July 10 at The Gabba.


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