Steve Smith refutes claims that Marnus Labuschagne’s second ODI omission was due to poor form

In the aftermath of Australia’s second ODI defeat to Sri Lanka, acting captain Steve Smith clarified that Marnus Labuschagne’s exclusion from the squad was not due to his recent performance.

Labuschagne was one of five players replaced for the second ODI, which Australia lost by an alarming margin of 174 runs on Friday.

Despite assumptions that his absence stemmed from a disappointing contribution of just 15 runs off 27 balls in the first match, Smith insisted this was not the reason for the change.

“We decided to mix up the teams for the two matches to allow everyone a chance to participate,” Smith commented following the defeat.

“We have a strong squad. Marnus has proven his ability to perform under pressure, so I believe he will be considered for the first ODI in Pakistan.”

Labuschagne’s recent form has drawn scrutiny, as he has failed to score a Test century in 28 innings.

Despite the disappointing performances in ODIs, Smith remains unfazed, particularly with the Champions Trophy looming next week.

“We were certainly experimenting with different line-ups. It’s not typical to see an Australian team make five changes on a regular basis,” Smith noted.

“Our goal was to ensure everyone had an opportunity to bat. It’s been a while since we played one-day cricket, and we wanted to reacquaint ourselves with the format.

“Sri Lanka outplayed us. They performed exceptionally well. We hope to learn from this experience, move ahead, and prepare effectively for the tournament in Pakistan.”

Australia is set to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy commencing on Wednesday, 19 February.