Marnus Labuschagne: Batsman to miss Australia tour for logistical reasons
- Published
Marnus Labuschagne has scored just 33 runs in four innings for Glamorgan this season
Glamorgan batsman Marnus Labuschagne will miss Australia's limited-overs tour of the West Indies in July because of logistical travel problems.
The 26-year-old will instead continue to play for Glamorgan in T20 and Championship games in that period.
Labuschagne has broken into Australia's one-day side and hoped to play international T20 as well.
"Playing for Australia is a dream come true and missing any games for Australia is not ideal," he said.
"The situation we are in is that there is so much quarantine and so much to do to get from England back to Australia to the West Indies.
"In terms of where we are going, there is the Ashes on, there is a T20 World Cup on. It's obviously not ideal, but there's not many other options so that's the way it is unfortunately."
Speaking to the Test Match Special podcast, Labuschagne said the "positive" about missing tour is that he will get more playing time at Glamorgan.
"There are 14 T20 Blast games that I might be available for as well as eight County Championship games," he added.
Australia national selector Trevor Hohns said they "worked through numerous options" to try to ensure Labuschagne could make it to the West Indies, but ultimately it was "more practical" for him to stay in Wales.
"Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone's control," Hohns said.
"Had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic, Marnus would be on this tour as a well-established member and important part of the one-day side.
"It's an unfortunate circumstance of the many challenges the world is facing right now.
"As it stands, Marnus has the opportunity to continue in County Cricket and T20 games with Glamorgan as we head into the World Cup and home summer."
Labuschagne scored 1,114 Championship runs in 10 matches in his first spell with Glamorgan in 2019, but has found his return this season difficult with just 33 runs in four innings in tough batting conditions.
Glamorgan's other Australia international, Michael Neser, a recent member of the Test squad, also misses out on the limited-overs tour and is likely to continue to play Championship matches while South African Colin Ingram features in T20 games.
Fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who was due to play for Welsh Fire in the Hundred franchise competition, will miss at least part of the tournament after being included in Australia's Caribbean trip.
Australia may travel to Bangladesh from the West Indies, but that scheduled tour is in doubt because of coronavirus issues.