Marnus Labuschagne Retained for South Africa Tour After Bangladesh Struggles
Australia stick with out-of-form batter, but the 2026 tour is expected to be a decisive test.
Australia's selectors have confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will keep his place in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. Chief selector George Bailey made the announcement, ending speculation that the 31-year-old might be dropped following a disappointing run of scores.
Labuschagne managed only 1, 31, and 4 in the recent two-match series against Bangladesh, and his ICC Test batting ranking has dipped to 38th. The right-hander has not scored a century since the Ashes in 2023, and his 2026 tally reads just 121 runs across five innings. Despite these numbers, captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald are said to be satisfied with his technique and form in the nets.
The decision gives Labuschagne another opportunity, but the South Africa tour in October 2026 is widely seen as a make-or-break assignment. Should he fail again, it could spell the end of his Test career. Once ranked the No. 1 batter in the world, Labuschagne now faces the toughest challenge of his cricketing life, with selectors running out of patience despite their continued backing.