Marnus Labuschagne dropped from Australia's Test squad for New Zealand series

Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australia's Test squad and will not be considered for any of the four matches against New Zealand. Chairman of selectors George Bailey confirmed the decision, which covers the first Test in Perth, starting on 9 December. The Guardian reported the news on 9 November.

It is a hard fall for a batter who once sat at the top of the world rankings. Labuschagne scored 10 centuries, meaning 100 runs or more in a single innings, from his first 33 Tests, and he averaged 59.43 across that spell. At one stage he was the world's top-ranked Test batter, which means the best on the official list.

The slide has been steep. On Australia's tour of South Africa, he scored 0, 4, 14, 39, 37 and 37. He has now gone 49 innings, or 49 turns at the crease, without a Test hundred, according to the same report.

This is not the first time he has been left out. He was dropped for Australia's tour of the West Indies last year. He earned his way back by scoring two centuries for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield, Australia's first-class domestic competition, and was recalled for the home Ashes series against England.

Bailey said the rest of the squad will be picked at the end of round four of the Sheffield Shield, so the wider list is still to come. Labuschagne will return to lead Queensland in that competition, which gives him a chance to show form before the selectors meet again.

Test cricket is the longest form of the game, played over up to five days. Australia's home summer is packed. Perth hosts the first Test from 9 to 13 December, and Adelaide hosts the second from 17 December. Across the series, New Zealand will play four Tests in Australia within barely a month.

For Labuschagne, the Shield is now the route back into the side. His scores there over the coming weeks will be the clearest evidence on offer for anyone asking whether he can return to the Test team.