Former Australia opener David Warner found himself in a playful social media exchange with England's famous fan group, the Barmy Army, on Friday, and the banter quickly moved from Saim Ayub's ducks to Marnus Labuschagne's century drought, England's curfew troubles and Warner's long-running Stuart Broad problem.

It all started when the Barmy Army took a dig at Warner after Pakistan batter Saim Ayub registered a pair of ducks in the final Test against England at Edgbaston. The England fan group posted a statistic pointing out that Ayub had now registered a pair twice on English soil.
Replying to the Barmy Army, Warner wrote: "Interesting stat. When was the last time I went 42 innings without a Test hundred??"
The reference was not actually about Warner. The 42 innings was a cheeky dig at former Australia teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who had gone through a lengthy drought without a Test century. Labuschagne's last Test hundred came against England at Headingley in 2023, and his drought had stretched to 42 innings.

But he wasn't finished. Then came the curfew dig.

Warner followed his 42-innings reference with another jab: "Oh do you guys still have a curfew? Asking for a mate."

That was a reference to England's recent off-field disciplinary issues involving players breaking team curfew and going out drinking. The issue had become a talking point around the England setup, with fast bowler Brydon Carse among the players caught up in the recent controversy.

#australia

Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of Australia's ODI squad for the upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, raising more questions about his future in the national team.

The batter had a poor run during Australia's recent ODI series in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Although he finished the Bangladesh campaign with an unbeaten 55 after being moved down the batting order, it was not enough to secure his place.

With Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh returning, Australia's selectors decided to leave Labuschagne out. His omission could also affect his chances of playing in the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa, especially after his disappointing performances against Bangladesh.

The six ODIs against Zimbabwe and South Africa are important for Australia's preparations for the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh in Zimbabwe, while Pat ****** mins will join the team for the South Africa leg. ****** mins and Marsh could share captaincy duties depending on ****** mins' workload. Mitchell Starc will return for the South Africa matches, while Josh Hazlewood has been selected for both series.

Australia's ODI squad:Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat ****** mins (SA only), Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (SA only), Adam Zampa.
New South Wales all-rounder Joel Davies has received his first ODI call-up after impressing in the T20I series against Bangladesh. Left-handed batter Ollie Peake has also kept his place.

Australia have added fast bowlers Spencer Johnson and Billy Stanlake. Johnson returns after recovering from a lengthy injury, while Stanlake recently ended a more than seven-year wait for another international appearance.

Cooper Connolly will remain with the ODI squad after his impressive 149 against Bangladesh.

The Zimbabwe series starts on September 15 in Harare, followed by matches on September 18 and 20. Australia will then play South Africa on September 24, 27 and 30.

#bangladesh

Twelve months out from the World Cup, the writing is on the wall for Marnus Labuschagne after he was axed from Australia's ODI squad for tour Zimbabwe and South Africa.
After a poor 50-over tour in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Labuschagne was among five players dropped for September's tour, with Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy and Liam Scott also left out.
Victorian teenager Ollie Peake has been an opportunity to impress with the bat, while NSW all-rounder Joel Davies could also make his ODI debut in the matches against Zimbabwe.
Lynchpin fast bowlers Pat ****** mins and Mitchell Starc have both been selected, showing their intention to feature in next year's World Cup and also be raring to go for the Australian summer of cricket.
MORE: When does Australia play its next Test match? Opponents, dates, venues for Australia's upcoming Test schedule

#labuschagne #africa

Mitchell Starc produced another devastating spell in Mackay to finish with a 10-wicket match haul as Australia crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in the second Test, levelling the two-match series 1-1 inside two days.

Starc returned figures of 10-51, adding four wickets on Sunday to his remarkable 6-12 on the opening day. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in their first innings before Australia also found batting difficult on a spicy pitch at Mackay in northern Queensland.

The victory provided a significant boost for Australia after their surprise defeat in the opening Test in Darwin.

Starc's performance also moved him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list. The left-arm quick now has 445 wickets, overtaking South African great Dale Steyn.

It was Starc's fourth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. Pat **** mins and Nathan Lyon also played key roles with three wickets each as Bangladesh were dismissed for 95 in their second innings.

Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29. The Bangladesh captain and experienced wicketkeeper-batter received little support from the rest of the line-up, with only two other batters reaching double figures.

Australia had resumed their first innings at 165-8 and added 45 runs to their overnight total. Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon initially put on 28 for the ninth wicket before Shoriful Islam ended Green's resistance.

Shoriful produced a searing inswinging yorker that struck Green on the front pad, with the decision confirmed on review. Green departed for 67 from 105 **** , having struck 10 boundaries. It followed his breakthrough home century in the first Test at Darwin.

Shoriful finished with 7-48, the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in a Test away from home.

Lyon, unbeaten on 32, and Josh Hazlewood took Australia beyond 200 before Hazlewood fell for six to Taijul Islam. Australia were eventually dismissed for 210, giving them a crucial 146-run first-innings lead.

Bangladesh's second innings quickly became another Starc show.

After getting through his first over, Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam for one in Starc's next over, with Marnus Labuschagne taking the edge. Mominul Haque then shouldered arms to the following delivery, which crashed into his off stump.

Starc returned after lunch to dismiss Litton Das for another duck. The wicketkeeper-batter faced 27 **** across three innings in the series without scoring.

The Australia quick completed his 10-wicket haul shortly before tea, bowling Taijul Islam for seven with a delivery that breached the gap between bat and pad.

Starc finished with 4-39 in the second innings and narrowly missed his best Test match figures of 11-94, recorded against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016.

Lyon completed the formalities after tea, taking the final two wickets in the first over of the session to wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 95.

The two-Test Top End series marks t

Why Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne from Tests originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Marnus Labuschagne fell for 4 in Mackay against Bangladesh in the second Test.
Ricky Ponting said Australia should have dropped Labuschagne earlier, citing technical flaws exposed by his poor form.
Labuschagne hasn't scored a Test century since July 2023 and averages just 25.43 across his last two seasons.
Marnus Labuschagne's Test career is under the scanner after yet another failure with the bat, this time falling for just 4 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay.

#labuschagne

MACKAY, Australia (AP) — Fresh from taking six wickets in the first innings, Australia's Mitchell Starc's again tormented Bangladesh's top order as the tourists were reduced to 39-3 at lunch in its second innings on Day 2 of a fast-moving second cricket test.
The evergreen left-arm bowler claimed an incredible 6-12 on Day 1 and backed up again Sunday morning with another two wickets in consecutive ****** to help Australia take a solid grip of the match in Mackay, in northern Queensland state.
At the break, Bangladesh trails Australia by 107 runs with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 23 and Mushfiqur Rahim on four.
After surviving Starc's first over of the innings, Bangladesh were not as fortunate in the Aussie's next over as Shadman Islam (1) edged a catch to Marnus Labuschagne, before Mominul Haque (0) shouldered arms and has his off stump rattled with Starc's next delivery.
Pat ****** mins also grabbed a wicket, having Tanzid Hasan (9) caught on the boundary.

#first #next #fresh

MACKAY, Australia (AP) — Australia's has dropped Jake Weatherald and recalled Matt Renshaw in a bid to stabilize the top order and try to level the two-match series after a shocking loss to Bangladesh in the first cricket test on the weekend.
Australia announced a 13-man squad on Tuesday, with only the one change for the second test in Mackay, in northern Queensland state, starting Saturday.
Weatherald was out for 23 in the first innings and didn't score in the second innings of Australia's nine-wicket defeat in Darwin, and averaged 20.36 in his 12 test innings. Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 1 and 31, was retained in the squad despite concern over his form.
The 30-year-old Renshaw is a contender to open the innings for Australia with Travis Head in his latest comeback to the test lineup.
Renshaw made his debut in 2016 and played 11 tests before being dropped in 2018. He was recalled in 2023 for three tests but has only played in the shorter formats for Australia since then. He averages 29.31 with one century in 14 tests, but has only played one of his last 10 tests on Australian soil.

#test #only #played #mackay

A home series against Bangladesh was expected to give Australia a chance to shake off the rust and begin a busy year of Test cricket. Instead, the nine-wicket defeat in Darwin has left the top-ranked side facing questions about its batting and the future of the team.

Australia were beaten inside four days on Sunday after Bangladesh dominated the first Test. The result was described by Australian media as one of the country's biggest Test defeats, with ninth-ranked Bangladesh outplaying the hosts.

The second and final Test in Mackay, Queensland, begins on Saturday and now carries greater importance than expected. Australia need a convincing win to level the series and ease concerns that the Darwin defeat was more than just a one-off result.

"Let's call this out for the gob-smacking shambles that it was ... Australia's nine wicket loss to Bangladesh is both the greatest upset in Test history and the most humbling Test loss ever suffered by an Australian cricket team," veteran cricket writer Robert Craddock opined in the Courier Mail newspaper, as quoted by Reuters.

"None of Australia's 236 Test losses over 150 years quite compare to it."

Captain Pat ****** mins did not try to hide Australia's poor performance after the match. He said the game was lost on the opening day, when Australia were dismissed for 198, but the problems extended beyond that innings.

Australia struggled throughout the match, losing ground across all four days and in every session.

The main focus has been on the team's batting. The concerns are not new and had already emerged during the home summer, when Australia won the Ashes 4-1 against England.

Opener Jake Weatherald has yet to show that he can consistently perform at Test level and may get one more opportunity in Mackay.

Marnus Labuschagne is also under pressure after two poor dismissals in Darwin. Once a key player in Australia's top order, his continued struggle is putting more pressure on the batters below him.

The defeat has also renewed calls for Australia to bring in younger players. Head coach Andrew McDonald and his coaching staff may have to consider changes despite the lack of young batters putting up enough runs in domestic cricket to demand selection.

#bangladesh #australian

Australia's humiliating nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh has accelerated calls for regeneration of its ageing Test team with opener Jake Weatherald and the inconsistent Marnus Labuschagne in the firing line.
The clash in Darwin had been touted as a mismatch after Bangladesh crumbled to an innings defeat in their only warm-up game and went into the first Test without injured pace spearhead Nahid Rana.
But in one of the biggest upsets cricket has seen, the visitors pulled off a historic victory Sunday to leave top-ranked Australia shell-shocked and facing recriminations.
Australia have suffered surprise home defeats in the recent past, including an eight-run loss to the West Indies at the Gabba in 2024.
But the manner of this crushing loss, with Bangladesh dominating each of the four days, had Australian media Monday slamming it as "a disaster" and the "most embarrassing" ever.

#jake

Bangladesh moved within touching distance of one of the biggest Test victories in their history after reducing Australia to 161/4 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test at Marrara Stadium on Saturday. The hosts remain 67 runs behind Bangladesh's first-innings total of 426, leaving the visitors needing just six more wickets to secure a historic Test victory on Australian soil.

Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 43, while Alex Carey was not out on 19 as Australia battled to survive the final session. However, the hosts still face the daunting task of first erasing the deficit before setting Bangladesh a target in the fourth innings.
Hasan Mahmud once again proved to be Australia's biggest problem, taking two wickets in the second innings after claiming 6/55 in the first innings. The fast bowler dismissed both openers cheaply, with Jake Weatherald falling for a duck and Travis Head departing for 17. Both batters chopped the ball onto their stumps while attempting cut shots.

Mahmud's two wickets took his match tally to eight, putting Bangladesh firmly in control.
Bangladesh resumed Day 3 on 351/6 and eventually posted 426, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz playing a crucial role in extending the visitors' lead. Mehidy scored 65 off 154 ****** and added valuable partnerships with Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed to guide Bangladesh past the 400-run mark.

After contributing with the bat, Mehidy returned to make another crucial impact with the ball, removing Steve Smith for 44 late in the day. Smith appeared set to guide Australia out of trouble before Mehidy took a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to reduce the hosts to 122/4.
Josh Hazlewood was the standout bowler for Australia, claiming all four Bangladesh wickets to fall on Saturday and finishing with 6/89. His dismissal of Mehidy was particularly significant as it brought up Hazlewood's 300th Test wicket. He became the fourth member of Australia's famed pace attack to reach the landmark and the ninth Australian bowler overall.

Hazlewood then dismissed Ebadot Hossain for seven to wrap up Bangladesh's innings at 426.

Australia's top order once again failed to provide a strong platform. Weatherald was dismissed without scoring before Head followed for 17, leaving Australia struggling at 37/2. Marnus Labuschagne showed some intent but was eventually bowled by Taijul Islam for 31 off 59 ****** after missing a straight delivery. Smith's dismissal then left Australia reeling at 122/4 before Green and Carey steadied the innings.

Australia's biggest successful comeback from a first-innings deficit at home came in 2010, when they recovered from 206 runs behind Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With Australia still 67 runs short of even drawing level, Bangladesh have placed themselves in an excellent position to create history in the first Test of the two-match series.

#bangladesh #biggest #hosts

Test cricket returns to Australia's tropical Top End for the first time since 2003 when the hosts take on Bangladesh in a two-match series beginning Thursday.

The first Test at Marrara Stadium in Darwin will be Bangladesh's first Test tour of Australia in more than 20 years. It also starts a 12-month period in which Australia are scheduled to play at least 20 Tests, including series against South Africa, India and England.

Australia are set to bring back their main bowling attack, with Pat **** mins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon returning from injuries. Mitchell Starc is also in the side.

Injuries have meant the four have rarely played together in recent series. Hazlewood's expected return means Scott Boland will miss out, while allrounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster are also in the starting XI.

"We know Scotty's class, it is always a pretty tight call," **** mins said at a press conference on Wednesday. "There is not much you can say to Scotty except there is a lot of cricket coming up.

"He knows his worth, and how good he is, and I am sure he will be out there at some point pretty soon."
Australia's bowling attack looks settled, but there are questions over the batting order.

Jake Weatherald, the first Test player from Australia's Northern Territory, has kept his place after Australia's Ashes win over England last season despite his recent form. He is expected to open with Travis Head.

Usman Khawaja's retirement has allowed Australia to play both Green and Webster in the same XI. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will bat at No. 3 and No. 4, with Labuschagne also looking for runs to strengthen his position in the side.
Bangladesh will be without Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam for the first Test. Shoriful could return for the second match in Mackay from August 22 to 26.

Rana, 23, is one of Bangladesh's quickest bowlers and was a key part of their ODI series win over Australia two months ago. He suffered a side strain during a T20I against Zimbabwe in July.
The series against Bangladesh begins a schedule of 20 Tests for Australia over the next 12 months, with another match possible if they qualify for the World Test Championship final.

After the second Bangladesh Test, Australia will tour South Africa for three Tests in October. They will then host New Zealand for four Tests before a five-Test series in India.

Australia will also play a one-off day-night Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March to mark the 150th anniversary of matches between the two countries.

The schedule will conclude with an away Ashes series beginning in June.

#series #bangladesh #match #play

Bangladesh registered only their second-ever ODI win over Australia, beating a depleted Australian side by 86 runs via the DLS method in the first match of the series in Mirpur on Tuesday.

Returning to ODI cricket after four years, Mosaddek Hossain made an unbeaten 86 off 70 ****** . Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 67, while opener Tanzid Hasan added 54 as Bangladesh posted 284/8.

In reply, Australia were restricted to 191/9 in 42.2 overs before lightning and rain stopped play. Chasing 285, Australia still needed 94 runs from 46 ****** when the match was halted and it could not be resumed. Cameron Green remained unbeaten on 52 off 66 ****** .

Fast bowler Nahid Rana led Bangladesh's bowling attack with 4/41, regularly touching 140 kph. Mosaddek also contributed with the ball, returning figures of 2/37 from his 10 overs.

Australia's chase got off to the worst possible start when Matthew Short was bowled by Taskin Ahmed off the first ball of the innings. Marnus Labuschagne, who had scores of 0, 5 and 19 in the recent ODI series against Pakistan, managed only 1 before being dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman.

Cooper Connolly scored 35 and shared a 49-run partnership with captain Josh Inglis (19) before adding another 40 runs with Alex Carey (47). However, Mosaddek dismissed Connolly and Rana struck three times in three overs during his second spell to put Bangladesh firmly in control.

Mosaddek's innings included seven fours and three sixes. He was dropped twice before reaching his half-century by Connolly and Oliver Peake, while Adam Zampa missed another chance when he was on 73.

Shanto also survived an early chance on 9 before going on to register his 12th ODI half-century.

For Australia, Nathan Ellis was the most successful bowler with 3/38 after also impressing in the recent Pakistan series.

The victory was Bangladesh's first ODI win over Australia since 2005. Australia had lost the ODI series against Pakistan 2-1 last week and are playing their first bilateral ODI series against Bangladesh in 15 years. The remaining two matches of the series will be played in Mirpur on Thursday and Sunday.

Pakistan overcame a stern challenge from Australia's spinners on a difficult surface to secure a four-wicket victory in the third and final ODI and seal the series 2-1 on Thursday, marking their third successive bilateral one-day series triumph over the world champions.

Chasing a modest target of 158 on a turning wicket in Lahore, Pakistan were made to work hard before reaching 161/6 in 41.5 overs. All-rounder Shadab Khan starred with an unbeaten 29 after earlier taking two wickets, while Abdul Samad remained unbeaten on 18 as the pair guided the hosts home with an unbroken stand after Pakistan had slipped to 112/6.

“It was a complete team effort throughout the series,” Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said after finishing with figures of 3-30. “The conditions were tough for the batters, but every run counted and all of our bowlers executed their plans well.”

Australia collapse despite Inglis resistance

Australia, who won the toss and opted to bat, were bowled out for 157 in 42 overs — their lowest ODI total in Pakistan. Josh Inglis fought a lone battle with a gritty 65 off 71 ******* and shared useful partnerships with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, but the visitors suffered another dramatic collapse.

After reaching a relatively comfortable position, Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs as Pakistan's pace and spin attack tightened the screws.

Haris Rauf triggered the slide by dismissing Carey before Afridi struck twice in one over with the old ball, removing Inglis and Cameron Green. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed claimed 2-19, while Shadab ended a run of five wicketless ODIs with figures of 2-28.
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Shadab and Samad finish the job

Pakistan's chase was also far from straightforward. Babar Azam top-scored with a patient 40 off 84 deliveries before left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who finished with 3-38, cleaned him up with a delivery that spun sharply to hit the off stump.

With Pakistan six down and the match finely balanced, Shadab and Samad showed remarkable composure on the abrasive surface. Australia failed to find another breakthrough and Shadab eventually sealed victory in style by smashing Adam Zampa to the long-on boundary.

“A bit like the first game, we were just too many runs short,” Australian captain Josh Inglis admitted after the defeat.