Marnus Labuschagne hits first century in 11 months and poised for Durban Test

Marnus Labuschagne scored 111 from 89 balls in Potchefstroom on Sunday during a two-day warm-up match, five days before Australia begin their three-match Test series in South Africa which opens in Durban on Friday. The century was his first in any form for 11 months and came as Australia compiled 6-368 against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI.

Labuschagne, 32, has faced public scrutiny over his place in Australia’s Test side after a run of three years and 43 Tests without a Test century, a sequence capped by three failures in the recent Bangladesh series that prompted former skipper Ricky Ponting to describe his selection as “untenable”. Despite that criticism, the South Africa-born batter appears set to occupy the No 3 position when the first Test begins.

He reached a 76-ball hundred and finished on 111, striking 19 fours before retiring to allow teammates batting practice on the final day of the warm-up. Steve Smith also retired after scoring 61, while Alex Carey made 57 as part of Australia’s 6-368 in a match that ended as a drawn procession.

Australia’s preparation included facing the Invitation XI, who declared on 318-7 following a century from former Proteas captain Neil Brand on Saturday; Australia used 11 bowlers across that outing. In the warm-up, Matt Renshaw was dismissed for 32 from 50 balls after recovering from a knock to his right wrist sustained in the final ODI and said he was fit for Durban.

Other batting contributions saw Travis Head make 21 off 22 balls and Beau Webster score 42 before retiring. The match took place at Senwes Park, less than 50km from Labuschagne’s birthplace in Klerksdorp and the venue of his first ODI hundred for Australia in 2020, and drew local interest when he came to the crease.

Renshaw offered praise for Labuschagne’s innings, saying: “Really nice. Looks like he’s got a lot of energy at the crease, it’s the Marn that I know that’s batting well,” and added, “Really nice to see him getting the runs and doing what he wants to do. Really nice positivity, his feet were moving well and he was just reacting.”

On the South African side, pace bowler Anrich Nortje is in line for a return to first-class cricket after an absence of three-and-a-half years as Proteas officials manage fitness concerns over Kagiso Rabada and three other frontline seamers. Nortje has not played a Test since March 2023 after back and hip problems prompted him to focus on white-ball formats.

Nortje commented on the prospect of a comeback: “I’ll be very excited if I can put my Test cap on again. Growing up, ⁠it’s the format you want to play,” he said on Sunday, the day before he’s expected to be named in South Africa’s Test squad of 15. The three-match series opens in Durban on Friday.