Once considered the next batting superstar of Australia’s Test team after Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne is now facing the heat due to his poor form. Despite his lean patch with the bat, Labuschagne has been picked for the three-match away Test series against South Africa, which begins on October 9 in Durban, following the conclusion of the three-match ODI series.
With Australia building its Test team for next year’s away Ashes series in England, and with no proven No. 3 batter waiting in the wings, these could be the reasons behind the Australian selectors retaining Labuschagne for the South Africa series.
The 16-member squad, led by Pat Cummins, was announced earlier this week, and many expected Labuschagne to be dropped after his string of low scores in the home series against Bangladesh, where he scored 1, 31 and 4 across three innings.
Not only has Labuschagne failed to score a half-century in his last 10 innings, but he is also going through a prolonged century drought. His last Test century came against England in the 2023 Ashes at Manchester, which was 43 innings ago.
His mediocre form over the past three years has seen his ICC Test batting ranking fall to 39th. Labuschagne previously held the No. 1 position in the ICC Test Batters Rankings twice, from December 2021 to June 2022 and again from December 2022 to June 2023.
Marnus Labuschagne’s Peak Form
The South African-born batter enjoyed a sensational run from 2019 to 2023, which is widely regarded as the golden period of his Test career.
After coming in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2019, Labuschagne cemented his place in the Australian Test side with a string of consistent performances.
From August 2019 to December 2023, Labuschagne scored 3,579 runs in 38 Tests at an average of 56.8, with a best score of 215. During this period, he scored all 11 of his Test centuries.
Marnus Labuschagne’s Performances Over the Years
Marnus Labuschagne Set to Play His First Test in South Africa
If selected in the playing XI, Marnus Labuschagne will have the opportunity to play his first Test match in South Africa, the country of his birth.
The selectors have decided to give him another opportunity to prove his worth, with several major series lined up next year, including five-Test series against India and England, both of which will be played away from home.
The 16-member squad for the South Africa Test series features regular captain and pace spearhead Pat Cummins. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Michael Neser and Cameron Green are the other seam-bowling options.
In the spin department, Australia have brought in Matthew Kuhnemann as a backup for veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
At the top of the batting order, Travis Head will be joined by Matt Renshaw, who recently replaced the struggling Jake Weatherald.
Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey are among the other batting options available. Cooper Connolly, who has played just one Test, has also been included in the squad.
The upcoming tour will mark Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since 2018.
Australia 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.
Series Schedule
First Test: October 9–13, Durban
Second Test: October 18–22, Gqeberha
Third Test: October 27–31, Johannesburg
