Overview
- Cricket Australia named Marnus Labuschagne in the 16‑man Test touring party for South Africa but chair of selectors George Bailey would not guarantee him a starting spot for the first Test.
- Labuschagne was omitted from Australia’s ODI squads for the tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, removing white-ball matches from his immediate lead-up to the Tests.
- He will captain Queensland in One-Day Cup matches against Victoria on Saturday and New South Wales on September 22 as short windows to score runs and press his case.
- Labuschagne has gone 43 Test innings without a century and has averaged in the mid-20s since the 2023 Ashes, a slump that has drawn public criticism from former players.
- He is preparing with Queensland coach James Hopes and is scheduled to join Australia’s Potchefstroom two-day warm-up ahead of the three-Test series that begins in Durban on October 9.