Labuschagne ton boosts Australia ahead of South Africa Tests — SkimNews
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- Marnus Labuschagne scored 111 from 89 balls, including 19 fours, before retiring out against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom in Australia's sole warm-up before the South Africa Tests.
- The 32-year-old's hundred ends a drought of 43 innings and over three years without a Test century, coming after scores of 1, 31 and 4 in the recent 1-1 home series draw against Bangladesh.
- Ricky Ponting told Sky Sports that Labuschagne's spot in the XI had become "untenable" after the Bangladesh series, yet Australia have kept faith with him and he is set to bat at No. 3.
- Steve Smith retired out for 61 and Alex Carey made 57 as Australia replied to the hosts' 318-7 with 368-6 on the second and final day of the tune-up, with Matt Renshaw chipping in with 32.
- Cameron Green missed the match with an abdominal injury sustained in the final ODI against South Africa last week and appears a doubt for the first Test in Durban.
- The three-Test series begins in Durban on Friday, followed by Gqeberha from October 18 and Cape Town from October 27 — Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
- Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned over the 2018 sandpaper incident, while Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Renshaw are the other survivors from that match eight years ago.
Why it matters: Labuschagne's knock arrives at a moment when his Test career was actively under threat — Ponting publicly called his selection untenable and he had not reached three figures in 43 innings — giving Australia an immediate selection justification heading to Durban. With Cameron Green already a doubt through injury, the form of Smith, Carey and Renshaw in the same innings provides Australia cover beyond the headline century.
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