Pat Cummins refuses to guarantee Marnus Labuschagne’s spot for South Africa Tests

Australia captain Pat Cummins is non‑committal on Marnus Labuschagne's selection for the upcoming three‑match Test series in South Africa. Australia are slated to tour South Africa for a multi‑format series in September, which includes three ODIs and three Tests.

Labuschagne is going through a lean patch that has extended far longer than Australia would have liked. His last Test century came more than three years ago against England in Manchester. He averages 25.93 in Tests since 2024, scoring 856 runs in 37 innings with eight fifties. His average drops further to 21.77 since the start of 2025.

Since 2024, Labuschagne has scored the third‑fewest runs (856) and has the second‑worst average (25.93) among batters in the top seven positions with a minimum of 30 innings. He also has the second‑fewest runs (797) and the lowest batting average (28.46) at No. 3 since 2024 among batters with at least 20 innings.

"We have got a bit of time. Selectors will get together in the next week or two and start nutting out that next Test squad. We know he is class when he is 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 will see in the next couple of weeks," Cummins said while addressing the press after the Mackay Test against Bangladesh.

Former Australia opener and selector Mark Waugh said it was high time the incumbent selection panel moved on from Labuschagne.

"I think his form is definitely a factor. He has averaged 26 for his last 40 Test innings at No. 3. Those numbers mean you would not normally get selected. It is such a long run to give a batsman... how many more chances does he get? He might not get another bat in this game, so he will be hoping he does. He might have played his last game for Australia," Waugh said on Fox Sports.

"There are guys around who selectors think maybe they are good enough, maybe they are not, and even averaging 26, they are not going to do better than Marnus. But I think it comes to a stage where you have to bite the bullet, and you have to give someone else a go," Waugh added.