Marnus Labuschagne scored a speedy, and timely, century in Australia’s sole warm-up match before the three-Test series in <a href="https://absafricatv.com/south-africa-sees-tourism-momentum-strengthen-in-2026/" title="South Africa sees tourism momentum strengthen in 2026″>South Africa from Friday, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Labuschagne struck 111 from 89 balls, reaching three figures from 76 deliveries and hitting 19 fours, before retiring out against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom.
The 32-year-old will hope to carry that form into the Test arena, starting in Durban this week, having gone 43 innings and over three years without a hundred in the format.
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After Labuschagne – who is averaging 25.43 since the 2023 Ashes – made scores of one, 31 and four in the recent 1-1 series draw at home to Bangladesh,ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting told Sky Sports that the batter’s spot in the XI had become “untenable”.
However, the Baggy Greens have kept faith with the South Africa-born player and he seems set to line up in his usual No 3 berth at Kingsmead as Australia begin their first Test series in the country since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Smith scores half-century in Test tune-up
Steve Smith – who along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft received a ban for the role he played in using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball – Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Matt Renshaw are the survivors from that contest eight years ago.
Smith, who followed Labuschagne in retiring out, and Renshaw scored 61 and 32 respectively on the second and final day of the tune-up for this month’s Tests, while Alex Carey made 57 as Australia replied to the hosts’ 318-7 with 368-6.
On day one, Australia used 11 bowlers in order to manage workload with seven taking a wicket apiece and none of the seamers getting through more than 10 overs.
All-rounder Cameron Green did not feature after picking up an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa last week and appears a doubt for the first Test.
After the series opener in Durban, the teams will meet in Gqeberha from October 18 and then Cape Town from October 27.
South Africa also host Bangladesh and England in Test cricket this winter, with the series against Joe Root’s men starting at Wanderers in Johannesburg on December 17.
Watch the first Test between South Africa and Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket from Friday (7.30am on air, 8.30am first ball).
