Australia loses Test series in South Africa; Labuschagne facing axe

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 08:21 · Archive

Australia lost a 2-1 Test series in South Africa, with Marnus Labuschagne facing removal from the team after poor form.

Australia lost the Test series 2-1 in South Africa, with South Africa winning the series-deciding Test in Cape Town and claiming the number one Test ranking in the process. Set 288 on the final day, Australia were bowled out for 111 in what former opener David Warner branded 'disgraceful' and 'un-Australian', reaching 60-7 by lunch.

Head coach Andrew McDonald said of struggling batsman Marnus Labuschagne: 'We believed in Marnus for this tour, we'll have to reassess that as we move forward. There's still a very good cricketer there. Every time he drops back to state level, he outperforms the others. But he hasn't taken his opportunity on this tour.' Labuschagne averaged 21.83 in the South Africa series, signing off with scores of 0 and 4 in the final Test.

Labuschagne's position in the team is now under intense scrutiny. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had previously branded his spot as 'untenable' after a lean return at home to Bangladesh. The batsman has now gone 49 Test innings without a century, stretching back to the 2023 Ashes in England.

How it is being reported

• Labuschagne facing Australia axe after poor South Africa series?Marnus Labuschagne is facing the axe from the Australia Test team after their 2-1 series defeat in South Africa, with head coach Andrew McDonald saying "he hasn't taken his opportunity on this tour".Sky Sports · 2 Nov, 07:09
• Quick hits: Marnus's career on the brink, Warner aims cutting lunch-time sprayDavid Warner labels his former teammates "disgraceful" and Marnus Labuschagne's career crisis continues to spiral as Australia endures a horror end to its tour of South Africa. Here are the quick hits from day five in Cape Town.ABC News Australia · 31 Oct, 20:03

In this story: Marnus Labuschagne · Andrew McDonald · David Warner · Australia · South Africa · Cape Town

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