George Bailey Confident in Marnus Labuschagne Ahead of South Africa Tests

George Bailey, the chief selector for Australian cricket, has voiced his confidence in Marnus Labuschagne's potential to excel in the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Despite Labuschagne's recent struggles, including a lack of centuries since the Ashes in 2023, Bailey believes he can still make a positive impact. The series, starting October 9, is crucial for both teams in the World Test Championship standings. With Australia currently leading and South Africa in second place, this high-stakes matchup will be pivotal for their paths to the final. The article delves into Labuschagne's recent performance, Bailey's support, and the upcoming series schedule.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 7, 2026, 14:45 IST

Optimism for Marnus Labuschagne

George Bailey, the chief selector for Australian cricket, has expressed his belief in Marnus Labuschagne's potential to perform well in the upcoming Test series against South Africa. He noted that not only Labuschagne but the entire batting lineup has been underperforming.

Despite not having scored a Test century since the Ashes in 2023, Labuschagne has retained his spot in the squad for the crucial series against South Africa, which kicks off on October 9.

Recent Performance Concerns

In his last outing against Bangladesh, Labuschagne's scores were disappointing, with 1, 31, and 4, contributing to Australia's struggles against a formidable Bangladeshi bowling attack. This series also marked a historic loss for Australia at home against Bangladesh in Darwin.

Labuschagne's Struggles

Labuschagne's recent form has raised concerns, with many suggesting it might be time to consider alternatives. Since his last Test century against England in 2023, he has averaged just 25.23, accumulating 959 runs in 42 innings, including only nine half-centuries and a top score of 90.

Bailey's Support

Following the announcement of the squad, Bailey acknowledged Labuschagne's need for improvement but also expressed confidence in his ability to contribute positively. "We acknowledge that we need more runs from Marnus, but we believe he can still make a significant impact," Bailey stated.

"The entire batting group has not been performing as well as we would like, but we have still managed to win many Test matches during this period. Ultimately, the goal is to score more runs than the opposition," he added.

Bailey also mentioned that Labuschagne's absence from the ODI series could allow him to focus solely on red-ball cricket, which might be beneficial for his preparation.

Upcoming High-Stakes Series

In his previous encounters against South Africa, Labuschagne has scored 148 runs in six innings across four matches, averaging 29.60 with a best score of 79. This series will be their first meeting since the World Test Championship Final last year and is crucial for determining which teams advance to next year's final at The Oval.

This tour marks Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the controversial 2018 series, with only five players from the current squad having prior experience in a touring party.

Australia currently leads the World Test Championship standings, while South Africa holds the second position. The Australian team enters this series after a tied 1-1 result against Bangladesh earlier this month.

Australia's Test Squad

The Australian squad for the series includes: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Beau Webster.

Series Schedule

The schedule for the series is as follows: First Test: October 9-13, Durban; Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha; Third Test: October 27-31, Johannesburg.