In a move signalling Queensland's effort to rebuild after a disappointing season, Marnus Labuschagne has been appointed as the new captain for the 2024-25 season, succeeding Usman Khawaja. Labuschagne’s new role provides him with an opportunity to solidify his leadership skills and potentially position himself as a future captain for Australia.
Labuschagne steps into the leadership role vacated by Khawaja, who will continue to captain the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL). Both Labuschagne and Khawaja will collaborate with Queensland and Heat’s new head coach, Johan Botha.
Last season, Labuschagne had a brief stint as captain in the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield. Despite his efforts, Queensland ended at the bottom of the Sheffield Shield standings for the first time since the 2007-08 season and placed fifth in the one-day competition.
Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson expressed confidence in the leadership qualities of both Labuschagne and Khawaja. He stated, "By appointing Marnus as the Bulls' captain, we are planning for the future. This is a perfect opportunity for Marnus to demonstrate his leadership at the first-class and one-day levels. The team and Marnus valued his leadership experience last season, and he is eager to work with Johan Botha for the upcoming season."
However, Labuschagne’s availability for Queensland throughout the season remains uncertain beyond October. With Australia’s packed international schedule, including an ODI series against Pakistan in November followed by Tests against India, and a tour to Sri Lanka for two Tests in late January, Labuschagne will likely be away for significant portions of the domestic season. The schedule extends into March with the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Labuschagne expressed his honour at being named Queensland’s captain, acknowledging the importance of the Bulls to fans across the state. He remarked, “It's a great privilege to captain Queensland, a team I deeply care about. I have been fortunate to play under some outstanding leaders, and I’m excited to take on this role and contribute to the team I love.”
He highlighted his enthusiasm for working with a talented group of players and his eagerness to maximise the opportunities and structures being developed in Queensland.
While there is no immediate change expected in the Australian national team’s captaincy, current captain Pat Cummins has suggested that he might not hold the Test and ODI captaincy for an extended period. This opens the door for players like Labuschagne, who can gain valuable leadership experience at the domestic level, a concern that has been alleviated somewhat by Cummins’ success in the role.
Travis Head, who has previously captained South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers, is another name often mentioned as a potential future captain. In Australia's most recent Test squad against New Zealand in Christchurch, only Labuschagne and Cameron Green were under 30, highlighting the importance of nurturing young leadership talent like Labuschagne.