Aussies seek middle-order 'morph' in post-Smith, Marnus world

Finding a middle-order problem solver in a post-Steve Smith world and, now, a post Marnus Labuschagne world, shapes as Australia's most pressing ODI challenge ahead of arguably their most important World Cup tune-up.

While Labuschagne remains in the Test reckoning ahead of next month's South Africa tour, his cards in 50-over cricket may have been marked after he lost his spot for ODIs against Zimbabwe and the Proteas hosted by 2027 World Cup venues.   

"He's played some really important one-day cricket for us," selection boss George Bailey told reporters on Tuesday. "At his best that looks a looks a certain way, but the way that squad and team is structuring up, there just wasn't space for him."

The Aussies have lost five of their last six bilateral ODI series but have been undermanned to varying degrees for each of those encounters. The injection of five World Cup winners – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh and Travis Head – into their African squads is a major upgrade to the side that lost back-to-back series in Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this year.

But while those players add proven firepower to the top-order batting and fast-bowling stocks, there is no silver bullet for the middle-order after the ODI retirements of Smith and Glenn Maxwell last year. Now selectors have also moved on from hoping Labuschagne could fill Smith's shoes.

Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis were Australia's best performed batters in the subcontinent earlier this year, but their best work was done in the top three. With Head and Marsh back, that pair may be pushed further down to carry the middle-order load with Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, as well as newcomers Ollie Peake and Joel Davies.

None of them necessarily fit the 'anchor' or 'firewall' mould that Smith and Labuschagne did. But Bailey, a former white-ball star who averaged above 40 batting at No.4 and 5 in ODIs, suggested his panel are not necessarily searching for a typecast.

"I still think we have that style of player within that squad – but it's not Steve Smith," said Bailey. "The retirements of Steve, Glenn – and even Marcus Stoinis – they were three very good role players within that team.

"One of the great advantages of the way this one-day group has been evolving over the last period of time is that ability for players to morph.

"The hard thing through the middle-order in one-day cricket is that there's not really a specific role. You can be in at two or three for not many, or you can be in at two or three for plenty, and you're trying to ice the cake or ice a chase.

"So that ability to be flexible or adapt your game as to what's playing out in front of you is really important. I think we've got a number of players that have done that and will continue to emerge to do that.

"Then as we get closer to a World Cup, you start to really refine that and bed that down."

Before last summer's home ODI series victory over India, Australia's only bilateral series win in almost two years, Australia had played just one of their previous 58 ODIs without at least one of Smith or Labuschagne in their XI.

Labuschagne earned a reprieve for the 2023 World Cup and then proved one of squad's most important members in a middle-order also featuring Smith. But Labuschagne has averaged 21.87 since his vital role in the Ahmedabad final with selectors finally losing patience ahead of a series in his native South Africa where both his ODI tons have come.

His best performed middle-order teammates since Australia won their sixth 50-over men's crown (those who have batted at least five times in positions 4-8) have been Inglis (374 runs at 42), Carey (518 at 40), Renshaw (217 at 31) and Green (276 at 31).

In contrast, Australia had three players averaging between 38 and 41 (Maxwell, Labuschagne and Green) in those same spots between the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. Carey averaged below 30 and was dropped one game into the '23 event.

Bailey stressed the importance of these six one-dayers in southern Africa given the link to next year's World Cup, particularly given there will be an eight-month break between Australia's ensuing ODI series (at home to England in November) and their next (against New Zealand in August in northern Australia).  

"As you get closer, you certainly want to be quite clear around the roles that players will have," said Bailey. "But what we have seen, and certainly even harking back to the last World Cup, is that that can come together quite late."

Which may be the case even for the team's leadership.

Bailey spelt out that he expects Pat Cummins will remain the ODI captain come next year's World Cup despite him having played only two 50-over games since he hoisted the trophy.

Mitch Marsh has filled in 15 times and will add to that tally in Zimbabwe and then also likely in South Africa too considering Cummins will likely miss at least one match of that series leading into the Test campaign Australia have made no secret of prioritising.

"Mitch will do the Zimbabwe tour, and then in South Africa we will probably be fluid around that without (currently) knowing exactly which games each of those guys will play in South Africa," said Bailey.

"I think we're incredibly fortunate with both those two – one of their great traits is they're non-territorial around that role. They both have very clear pictures of how they and we would like that one day team to function. So I think that'll continue.

"Mitch has done it a hell of a lot, given Pat hasn't played much one-day cricket, and we know that when Pat does play and comes back into the team, what a strong leader he is. I think we we're incredibly blessed on that front.

"I imagine there's a chance that both of them may do some of it in South Africa, and I imagine that may continue as we go forward. Having said that, I think clearly by the time we get to the World Cup, there'll be one (captain)."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Australia Test squad: TBC