Marnus Labuschagne has survived another selection scare, with Cricket Australia retaining the struggling batter in its 16-member Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa.The decision came despite growing calls for Labuschagne to be dropped. Australia greats Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden have both questioned his place in the side, but chief selector George Bailey has opted to continue backing the right-hander.Labuschagne’s recent record has done little to strengthen his case. It has been more than three years since he last scored a Test century, with his most recent hundred coming in July 2023. Across his last 43 Test innings, he has averaged just 24.69.His struggles have already cost him his place in Australia’s ODI squad for the series against South Africa. However, the selectors have continued to show faith in him in the longer format.That backing comes despite Labuschagne managing scores of only 1, 31 and 4 across his three innings against Bangladesh.
Australia add three players to Test squad
The upcoming series will be the first meeting between Australia and South Africa since last year’s World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. The results in this series could have a major bearing on which teams eventually qualify for next year’s WTC decider at The Oval.Alongside Labuschagne, the selectors have retained 13 players from the squad that featured in Australia’s most recent Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, which Pat Cummins‘ side won inside two days.Cooper Connolly, Michael Neser and Matthew Kuhnemann are the three additions to the 16-man group.Connolly’s inclusion is notable given his limited experience in first-class cricket. The left-hander is yet to score a first-class century and has batted at No.3 only once. He was also recently dropped by Western Australia for their final Sheffield Shield match last summer.Neser, meanwhile, returns after recovering from a calf strain sustained during a training camp in early August. His inclusion gives Australia five fast-bowling options, with Neser joining captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.Cameron Green and Beau Webster are the two all-rounders included in the squad and are expected to feature in Australia’s playing XI for the opening Test in Durban.Matt Renshaw has also retained his place as an opener. The left-hander had previously come into the squad in place of Jake Weatherald after Weatherald struggled in the first Test against Bangladesh.Explaining the selection, Bailey highlighted the demands of the South Africa tour, with the Test series coming after six ODIs and featuring short gaps between matches.“This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short breaks between each game. The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face,” Chair of Selectors George Bailey said in an official statement.The three-Test series will begin in Durban on October 9, before moving to Gqeberha and Cape Town.The tour marks Australia’s first Test trip to South Africa since the infamous 2018 series, when the sandpaper gate scandal rocked the team.Only five members of the current touring party have previously been part of an Australian squad that travelled to South Africa for a Test series: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw.Australia Test squad for tour of South Africa: Pat Cummins (captain), 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.
