Despite a poor performance against Bangladesh, Australia has retained Marnus Labuschagne in the squad for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa.
The three-Test series between Australia and South Africa will begin on October 9. This will be the first time since the controversial 2018 tour that the Australian team will play a Test series in South Africa.
Labuschagne has got a place in the team despite scoring only 1, 31 and 4 runs in the two Test matches against Bangladesh. His last Test century came three years ago in Manchester. Australia had dropped him from the ODI team, but has kept faith in him in Test cricket.
Australia has also included young all-rounder Cooper Connolly in the team. Connolly made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year and has only one Test match to his name. Matthew Kuhneman and Michael Neser have also got a place in the team.
Kuhneman is a left-arm spinner and will provide additional spin options to off-spinner Nathan Lyon. At the same time, Neser can prove useful in South Africa due to his all-round abilities.
He was ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh due to a calf injury. Neser, who performed brilliantly in the 2025-26 Ashes series by taking 15 wickets in three matches, is likely to play against his country of birth South Africa.
Australia have also retained Matthew Renshaw as Travis Head’s opening partner. Renshaw had replaced Jake Weatherald after the defeat against Bangladesh in Darwin.
Renshaw, who was the best opening batsman of Sheffield Shield in the last domestic season, had scored three centuries in 10 innings. He was out for eight runs in the only innings of the Mackay Test, but the selectors have given him another chance for the South Africa tour.
The first Test of the South Africa tour will be played at Kingsmead, Durban from 9 October. This will be followed by the second Test at St George’s Park in Gkebarha from October 18, while the third and final match of the series will be played at Newlands, Cape Town from October 27.
Australia’s Test team:
Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhneman, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.