Australia’s Test selectors have kept the faith in under-performing batsman Marnus Labuschagne for the looming tour of South Africa.
Labuschagne, who hasn’t scored a Test century since July 2023, has been included in a 15-man squad for next month’s three-Test series.
Selectors added Cooper Connolly, Matthew Kuhnemann and Michael Neser to the squad from the recent home series against Bangladesh.
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Labuschagne’s Test tenure had been in question following a string of middling returns, including making just 35 runs in three innings against Bangladesh.
But selectors have retained Labuschagne for Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal in a squad featuring no obvious replacement for the Queenslander.
Josh Inglis is the spare batsman in the squad, with Matthew Renshaw to be given an extended stretch as an opening batsman after replacing the axed Jake Weatherald for the second Test against Bangladesh.
The South African series starts in Durban on October 9.
The second Test in Gqeberha begins October 18 with the series finale in Cape Town from October 27.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Pat Cummins (capt), 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.
