opening reveal as Aussie cricket star faces the axe for South Africa tour

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins refused to guarantee Marnus Labuschagne's place on the South African tour after another poor performance from the batter. This comes as Labuschagne didn't get another opportunity out in the middle after his first innings wicket in Australia's second Test win against Bangladesh.

The Aussies scored 210 in the Test and it was enough with Bangladesh all out for 64 and 95 following Mitchell Starc taking 10 wickets across the match. However, the form of Labuschagne has once again dominated headlines with the batter out for four off nine balls in Australia's only innings.

Australia's dominance with the ball meant Labuschagne didn't get another chance to find form with calls growing for selectors to make a change after the batter's struggles. Cricket greats Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy have both called for Australia to make a change for the blockbuster tour of South Africa.

The 32-year-old has now gone 23 Tests and 43 innings without a century, averaging just 24.69 across three years of cricket. While he still averages 44 in Test cricket his recent form has seen him struggle.

Labuschagne would have been desperate for more time out in the middle with his place in the team seemingly under immense pressure. Labuschagne was seen ahead of Day 2 in the nets getting more practice in with the hope he would get another opportunity.

But the batter never got back out with Starc and Cummins ripping through Bangladesh. with Australia securing an innings win. And another low score for the batter prompted Cummins to be asked if Labuschagne would be part of the South Africa tour.

"I don't reckon I can guarantee anyone really. He's not scored the runs he would've liked," Cummins said after the match. "I did say a couple of days ago – and I think it still stands – he's been batting fantastically well off the field. But it doesn't mean much. You've got to convert that into runs out there.

"We've got a bit of time. Selectors will get together I'm sure in the next week or two and start nutting out that next Test squad. We know he's class when he's at his best, and going into this series we thought he was pretty close to his best.

"But he needs to start transferring that into runs out there, so we'll see in the next couple of weeks." Unfortunately, calls are growing with Ponting not convinced Labuschagne should retain his place.

Ricky Ponting unsure over Labuschagne selection

Speaking after Labuschagne's wicket, Ponting suggested it was time to make a call on the out-of-form batter. And it comes ahead of a huge tour of World Test Championship winners South Africa.

"I well and truly think it's time to have a look at somebody else. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one for making panic change just because we lost last week," Ponting said on Channel 7. "It wasn't about that. I didn't want to make change (as a captain) but when something stretches out as long as it has now and it's well over two years since he's made a Test match hundred."

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