Marnus Labuschagne survives axe, Cooper Connolly named in 16 player team, reaction

Marnus Labuschagne has been handed a reprieve from Australia’s selectors in a stunning show of faith as a 16-man squad was named for next month’s three-Test tour of South Africa.

Labuschagne is set to vie with rising star Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis for a place in Australia’s top order with 23-year-old Connolly recalled to the Test squad after making his debut in Sri Lanka last February.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Following underwhelming an Ashes series and his struggles against Bangladesh in the Top End last month, Labuschagne’s place in the Australian squad was in peril due to struggling to find anywhere near his best form over the past two years.

His most recent century came in the Ashes tour of England in 2023, but selectors will be hoping Labuschagne can get back to his best as if he was dropped from the starting XI, it would force a reshuffle of Australia’s top order with Connolly and Inglis traditionally serving as middle order players.

“We’re not shying away from the fact that we’d like some more runs from Marn. That’s clear,” Australia chair of selectors George Bailey told reporters on Monday.

“But we’re also confident that he can still make a positive contribution to that squad.

“I think Marn will continue to prepare and refine how he will prepare for this series. There’s potentially a simplification or an ability to focus purely on red-ball cricket for him in the fact that he won’t be in the one-day series leading up to it. So that may be a benefit. I’m not sure around that.

“He’ll prepare incredibly well, and specifically for this tour. In that squad of 16, I’m confident that he can still make a positive contribution.”

Although, Bailey stopped short of locking Labuschagne in at No.3 for the series opener in Durban on October 9.

“I appreciate the interest in it,” he said.

“We’ll get a much clearer picture of what that XI looks like once we get over there,” he added.

TALKING PTS: Why Marnus reprieve may not be all it seems as ‘born to play’ rising star emerges

For Australia’s first tour of South Africa since Sandpapergate, Connolly is one of three additions to the Test squad that drew 1-1 with Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay.

The young West Australian has been rewarded for boasting the best first-class average (42.10) of Australia’s next generation of batters despite never scoring a first-class century.

Connolly has emerged in white-ball cricket in 2026, however, with a breakout IPL campaign for the Punjab Kings as well as scoring his maiden ODI century in Bangladesh in June.

His left-arm spin also offers the Australians another all-round option too - he batted at No.8 against Sri Lanka in his Test debut.

“He’s a good player, and one I think that’s going to continue to develop across formats,” Bailey said.

“Every time that we’ve had him on tour, he’s a good learner. He’s keen to expand his game.”

While Bailey confirmed he has been picked as a batter for the upcoming tour, and could fulfill a top order role.

“I think he will be able to,” he said.

“Whether that’s now, whether that’s in the future. He’s still so young in his career, but I think his ability to bat in a range of positions will continue to grow as he gets more and more experience.”

Ashes hero Michael Neser returns to add fast bowling depth behind skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey hinted that Boland and Neser could feature in the Rainbow Nation with rotation on the cards due to the tight turnaround between Tests - there is a four-day break between each of the Tests.

“This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short breaks between each game,” Bailey said in a statement.

“The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face.”

Left arm tweaker Matthew Kuhnemann has been named as Nathan Lyon’s back-up and could play his first Test outside of the subcontinent.

Opener Matthew Renshaw has held his place after replacing Jake Weatherald at the top of the order in Mackay.

So too has all-rounder Beau Webster despite a poor series with the bat against Bangladesh.

Although, Bailey did not dismiss the prospect of Travis Head returning to the middle order or Steve Smith moving to No.3.

“I guess they’re all questions that’ll be on the table, and that’s probably the consideration, isn’t it?” Bailey said.

“Any time you do make a move, it’s what are you taking away from where they are performing, and that’s always going to be a question, particularly around Travis, I think, the success that he had at five, but also the success he has had at the top, and what he and what he provides to the structure of the team there.

“So I think there are always going to be considerations. Steve has batted at three for a large part of his career. Hasn’t done it for a little while, and has had success there. So absolutely, that’ll be a conversation at some point.”

Australia plays the first Test of its three match tour against South Africa in Durban from October 9, with the second Test to be held in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, with the final outing in Cape Town in late October.

SQUAD

Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c)

Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)

Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)

Cooper Connolly (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club)

Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)

Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)

Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)

Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)

Matthew Kuhnemann (TAS/Clarence Cricket Club)

Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)

Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)

Michael Neser (QLD/Gold Coast Cricket Club)

Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul Cricket Club)

Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)

Beau Webster (TAS/Kingborough Cricket Club)

Click here to read article