A lack of consistency has cost Marnus Labuschagne a place in Australia's ODI squad, but the Test star's dream of playing in a World Cup was not yet over according to selection chair George Bailey. Speaking after Cricket Australia revealed the squads for white-ball tours of South Africa and India, Bailey also confirmed that Steve Smith was set to open the batting in upcoming T20Is against the Proteas before a busy one-day schedule to follow. Labuschagne was the most notable absentee of an extended 18-player World Cup squad announced today, with selectors set confirm an ICC-mandated 15-player group for the showpiece event by late September.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/marnus-labuschagne-inconsistency-odi-cricket-steve-smith-t20-opener-george-bailey-selector/2023-08-07

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