Under-fire Labuschagne named in Australia Test squad for South Africa

Under-pressure batsman Marnus Labuschagne was retained Monday by Australia for their Test tour of South Africa, with Cooper Connolly, Matthew Kuhnemann and Michael Neser also included in a 16-man squad.

Number three Labuschagne has failed to score a century since 2023 and flopped again in two home Tests against Bangladesh last month with scores of one, 31 and four.

He was subsequently axed from Australia's squad for three one-dayers in Zimbabwe and another three in South Africa preceding the Tests.

But selectors opted against a red-ball change for what will be the team's first Test series in South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

"This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short breaks between each game," said chief selector George Bailey.

"The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face."

All-rounder Connolly's selection is another indication that the 23-year-old is seen as a long-term prospect while Kuhnemann was preferred to Todd Murphy as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon.

Neser, who like Labuschagne was born in South Africa, provides back-up for the pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Australia travel to Durban for the first Test on October 9 before the series moves to Gqeberha and Cape Town.

Only Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw have played Test cricket before in South Africa.

The last time they were there, Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all sent home in shame.

Smith was banned for a year and sacked as captain after conspiring to alter the ball using sandpaper during the third Test in Cape Town, while the now-retired Warner, considered the ringleader, was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles.
Australia Test 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

Agence France-Presse