Australia batter <a href="https://absafricatv.com/australias-marnus-labuschagne-hits-timely-hundred-ahead-of-south-africa-test-series-live-on-sky-sports-from-friday/" title="Australia's Marnus Labuschagne hits timely hundred ahead of South Africa Test series, live on Sky Sports from Friday”>Marnus Labuschagne looks set to win another chance to cement his Test spot following a timely century for his side in a tour match ahead of the first ICC World Test Championship contest against South Africa in Durban.
Labuschagne hasn’t scored a Test century in more than three years, but the experienced right-hander looked in good touch when he amassed a quickfire innings of 111 for the Aussies during their sole warm-up fixture ahead of the first Test against the Proteas that commences on Friday.
The 32-year-old stroked 19 boundaries during his impressive knock as Australia scored 368/6 in reply to Cricket South Africa Invitational XI’s innings of 318/7 declared, with the two-day match ending in a draw in Potchefstroom.
Marnus Labuschagne takes a worldie of a catch | Sobha POTT | WTC25 Final
It bodes well for Labuschagne as he attempts to retain his place in Australia’s XI for the crucial World Test Championship series against South Africa, with fellow batter Matthew Renshaw providing ample support for the former No.1 ranked Test batter as he tries to cling on to his spot for the Aussies.
“It looks like he (Labuschagne) has got a lot of energy at the crease, which is nice,” Renshaw said after the tour match.
“It’s the Marn (Labuschagne) that I know that’s batting well. Really nice to see him getting the runs … his feet were moving well, and he was just reacting.”
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Labuschagne’s hold on the No.3 position is further strengthened by the fact that all-rounder Cameron Green is battling an abdominal strain and is facing a race against time to be fit for the first Test, with Beau Webster making 42 at No.5 for the Aussies in the tour match as he put his case forward for selection.
There were also good signs for Renshaw as showed no lingering effects from the of the hand issue he picked up during the third and final ODI against South Africa, with the left-hander amassing an innings of 36 at the top of Australia’s batting order as he attempts to maintain his own place in the side alongside fellow opener Travis Head.
“I had a good couple of days of recovery and fortunately nothing serious in there, just a bit of swelling (on his hand),” Renshaw said after his innings.
“It was nice to face some (fast) bowlers. The one-day series was a lot of spin, so it was a completely different scenario for me going to face the new red ball. I felt like my rhythm was going pretty well.
“It’s still having good positivity. It’s more just picking the right ball, especially when you’re batting out there with ‘Trav’. It’s sort of calming yourself down a lot because you know that he’s going to be going pretty hard and playing some nice shots.
“Just knowing that there’s no rush and you can just bat.”
Winning moment of #WTC23 Final
The Aussies celebrate as they claim the 2023 World Test Championship Final against India
Australia currently sit on top of the World Test Championship standings and will be looking to extend their advantage over the Proteas as the race to feature at next year’s final at The Oval heats up.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test only), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
First Test: October 9-13, Durban
Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha
Third Test: October 27-31, Johannesburg
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