Last Updated on 2 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
Australia have backed Marnus Labuschagne once again, selecting the under pressure number three in the squad for the Test tour of South Africa.
Labuschagne’s poor form since July 2023 has been highly documented, but the selectors remain patient with the 32-year-old in the hope he rediscovers his best form.
Labuschagne averages just 24.69 in 43 innings since his Manchester hundred in the 2023 Ashes. He made scores of 1, 31 and 8 in the recent series against Bangladesh, but he has held off other contenders Kurtis Patterson and Nathan McSweeney for a place in the squad.
Australia Test squad for three-match series against South Africa
Here is Australia’s Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
Other notable inclusions include Cooper Connolly, Matt Kuhnemann and Michael Neser, who has recovered from a calf injury.
23-year-old Connolly has made strides with the bat this year and is seen as a key part of Australia’s transition period in the coming years. His last innings for Australia was an excellent 149 in the third ODI against Bangladesh in June, which prompted the selectors to select him for the ODIs against Zimbabwe and South Africa as well.
Left-arm spinner Kuhnemann was selected as the second spinner ahead of Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli. The Proteas have a number of right-handers in their lineup, which may have prompted the selectors to pick Kuhnemann ahead of the aformentioned offspinners.
“This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short breaks between each game,” Bailey said in a statement, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face.”
South Africa vs Australia Test series schedule 2026
The highly anticipated series will be Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the infamous four-match duel in 2018.
- 1st Test:Â October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban.
- 2nd Test:Â October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha.
- 3rd Test:Â October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town.
