Australia Name Test Squad For South Africa Tour As WTC Leaders
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| Marnus Labuschagne |
Labuschagne survives axe but faces Connolly battle for no.3 spot in South Africa tests.
Labuschagne retains Test place for South Africa tour despite ODI omission...
Under-pressure Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has been included in the 16-man Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa, days after missing out on selection for the ODI side.
Labuschagne’s place in the Test team has come under growing scrutiny from outside the camp after a poor return of 36 runs across three innings against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay. The World Test Championship series finished 1-1.
The 32-year-old hasn’t scored a Test century since the 2023 Ashes in England, where he made 111 in Manchester. Since then he’s opened the batting in more than 40 innings.
In that span he’s managed 959 Test runs at an average of just 24.6, with nine half-centuries from 43 innings.
Former Australia great Ricky Ponting said on TV recently that selectors should move on from Labuschagne, citing long-running issues with technique and confidence.
Even with a spot in the 16-man touring squad, Labuschagne isn’t assured of a place in the XI for the first Test in Durban on October 9.
He’s believed to be battling 23-year-old rising talent Cooper Connolly for the No. 3 position in Australia’s Test batting order.
Unlike Labuschagne, Connolly has three chances to push his case for a Test debut in lead-up ODIs at Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom in the final week of September.
Matt Kuhnemann and recently injured all-rounder Michael Neser have also been added to the 13-man squad that beat Bangladesh in Mackay to level the series. Connolly joins them in the expanded 16-man group.
It also opens the door again for Queenslander Matt Renshaw at the top of the order, after he scored 8 on his Test return in Mackay.
Speaking to reporters, chief selector George Bailey said the “squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face,” pointing to the spin-friendly wicket expected at St George's Park in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth.
Australia haven’t played a Test in South Africa since the 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal, and that episode is likely to come up again over the course of the series.
South Africa are the current World Test champions after beating Australia in the 2025 final at Lord’s. However, they haven’t played a Test since their tour of India in November 2025.
The Proteas sit second on the WTC standings with 75%, having won 3 of 4 matches in the 2025-27 cycle. Australia top the table on 80% with 8 wins and 2 losses from 10 games.
Australia's Test squad for their first visit to South Africa since 2018
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 7, 2026
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During this WTC cycle, South Africa will also host Bangladesh and England, and they’re set to tour Sri Lanka in February-March 2027.
Australia Test squad to tour South Africa:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
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