Bailey backs misfiring Labuschagne to fire in Proteas series

Australia have expressed confidence that Marnus Labuschagne can turn his form around during next month's three-match tour of South Africa, writes Jonathan Healy for ICC-Cricket’s news service.

This is despite the top-order batter's lean run with the bat over the past two years.

Labuschagne retained his place in a 16-man squad named on Monday for the series, which gets under way in Durban on 9 October, though selection chief George Bailey stopped short of guaranteeing the 32-year-old a spot in the starting XI for the opening Test, given the lengthy build-up before the tour begins.

Reserve batter Josh Inglis and all-rounder Cooper Connolly have both been included as cover should Labuschagne be squeezed out of the side, but Bailey – speaking on Monday – said he still expected runs from the former world No. 1 Test batter.

“We are not shying away from the fact that we'd like some more runs from Marnus. That's clear, but we're also confident that he can still make a positive contribution to that squad,” Bailey said.

He added that Australia's top order as a whole, not Labuschagne alone, had underperformed of late, though he pointed to the side's continued success in Test cricket over that period as the more telling measure. “Scoring more runs than the opposition that you're playing the game in” remained the ultimate barometer, he said.

Labuschagne's underwhelming trot stretches back to July 2023, the last time he registered a Test century. He continued to struggle last month, managing only 36 runs in three innings during the home series against Bangladesh.

Bailey suggested that Labuschagne's omission from the one-day squad for the earlier leg of the tour to South Africa could work in his favour, allowing him to focus solely on preparing for the longer format.

“He'll prepare incredibly well and specifically for this tour,” Bailey said. “And as I said, in that squad of 16, I'm confident that he can still make a positive contribution.”

Australia arrive in South Africa top of the World Test Championship standings, with the hosts breathing down their necks in second place. The two sides met in last year's WTC final at Lord's, where South Africa's bowling attack – led by Kagiso Rabada and with runs from Aiden Markram – dethroned the defending champions.

Bailey, though, was wary of drawing too close a comparison between that one-off final and the upcoming three-Test series. “They are a formidable opponent. They're a strong team, very, very strong bowling attack,” he said, adding that he expected nothing less from the Proteas this time around.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), 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

Series schedule:

First Test: 9–13 October, Durban
Second Test: 18–22 October, Gqeberha
Third Test: 27–31 October, Johannesburg