Marnus Labuschagne has strengthened his case to retain the No 3 position for Australia's Test series in South Africa by scoring his first century in any form of cricket for 11 months. The 32-year-old made 111 from 89 balls against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom, just five days before the first Test in Durban on Friday.
Timely response to critics
The innings came amid debate over Labuschagne's place in the Test side, with former skipper Ricky Ponting describing his position as "untenable" after three years and 43 Tests without a Test century, including three failures in the recent Bangladesh series. Labuschagne reached his hundred off 76 balls, hitting 19 fours before retiring to allow teammates batting practice on the final day of the two-day warm-up match.
Steve Smith also retired after scoring 61, while Alex Carey made 57 following his form in the third ODI. Australia finished on 6-368 in the drawn match.
Warm-up match details
Smith, who received a 12-month ban for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, is among several survivors from that tour in the current squad, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Matt Renshaw. Renshaw declared himself fit after a knock to his right wrist in the final ODI but was dismissed for 32, while Travis Head made 21 and Beau Webster scored 42 before retiring.
Labuschagne played at Senwes Park, less than 50km from Klerksdorp where he was born and where he scored his first ODI hundred for Australia in 2020. Renshaw said of his teammate: "Really nice. Looks like he's got a lot of energy at the crease, it's the Marn that I know that's batting well. Really nice to see him getting the runs and doing what he wants to do."
South Africa's selection news
The Invitation XI declared on 318-7 after a century from former Proteas captain Neil Brand, with Australia giving 11 bowlers a run-out on Saturday. South Africa paceman Anrich Nortje is in line for a return to Test cricket for the first time since March 2023 after a series of back and hip problems, with fitness doubts over Kagiso Rabada and three others. Nortje said: "I'll be very excited if I can put my Test cap on again. Growing up, it's the format you want to play."
