- McDonald: Australia will ‘reassess’ Labuschagne selection and team’s ‘age profile’ While Australia’s head coach admitted it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, he stressed there had been development in batting. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after sacking Pat Cummins, smiles after sacking Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 “At the end of the day, we are far more great than terrible and that’s what makes me hpy.” Simon Harmer struck three times in the opening session of the final day, South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Ce Town, Day 5, October 31, 2026. Lyon’s fading strength, Smith at No.1.
- 3 and the never-ending Boland debate – Questions for Australia after SA’s 3rd Test series defeat against AUS – Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith and Scott Boland headline big questions for the Australian Test team. The Test team lost their three-match series in South Africa 1-0 and an aging team now needs to find answers ahead of their summer home game next month. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon celebrate a wicket, Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Mackay, Day 2, 23 August 2026 A disastrous final morning prevented a series of missed opportunities, questionable decisions and increasingly high profile failed attacks. Marnus Labuschagne returns, his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 The Afghan spinner’s first T20I five-over victory sealed his team’s dominant win by seven wickets from 71 deliveries. Noor Ahmad picked up a five-for as Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 79, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I, Sharjah, November 1, 2026. Seifert is now included for the entire series, while Nicholls and Foxcroft have been brought in for the first three ODIs and the last two matches respectively. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chman added 112 runs off 91 balls for the second wicket, New Zealand against Sri Lanka. T20I, Hamilton, January 8, 2025 The series between New Zealand and India offered further insight into the evolving battle between bat and ball in T20 cricket. Adam Milne struck with his first ball to beat Abhishek Sharma, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Lower order runs put New Zealand A ahead despite runs from Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan bowled all 11 overs before the end of play to reduce India A’s deficit to 46 runs. Mukesh Kumar runs to bowl, Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Cup, Day 2, Srinagar, October 2, 2026. India won the series 3-2, which included successfully chasing 226, with the youngsters rising under pressure to chase 199 in less than 14 overs. Admitting it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, Australia’s head coach insisted there had been a development in batting. Marnus Labuschagne leaves frustrated after falling to 37, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Durban, Day 4, October 12, 2026. Australia explained where things went wrong for Australia and what personnel changes are possible in the future. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald defended the number. Chances for Marnus Labuschagne, who looks certain to lose his place for the second time in 18 months after a meager tour of South Africa ended with a forgettable outing in Ce Town.
- But despite the 2-1 series loss that saw Australia bowled out for 99 and 111, McDonald saw encouraging signs in the batting department.
McDonald: Australia will ‘reassess’ Labuschagne selection and team’s ‘age profile’ While Australia’s head coach admitted it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, he stressed there had been development in batting. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after sacking Pat Cummins, smiles after sacking Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 “At the end of the day, we are far more great than terrible and that’s what makes me hpy.” Simon Harmer struck three times in the opening session of the final day, South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Ce Town, Day 5, October 31, 2026. Lyon’s fading strength, Smith at No.1.
3 and the never-ending Boland debate – Questions for Australia after SA’s 3rd Test series defeat against AUS – Nathan Lyon, Steven Smith and Scott Boland headline big questions for the Australian Test team. The Test team lost their three-match series in South Africa 1-0 and an aging team now needs to find answers ahead of their summer home game next month. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon celebrate a wicket, Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, Mackay, Day 2, 23 August 2026 A disastrous final morning prevented a series of missed opportunities, questionable decisions and increasingly high profile failed attacks. Marnus Labuschagne returns, his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 The Afghan spinner’s first T20I five-over victory sealed his team’s dominant win by seven wickets from 71 deliveries. Noor Ahmad picked up a five-for as Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 79, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I, Sharjah, November 1, 2026. Seifert is now included for the entire series, while Nicholls and Foxcroft have been brought in for the first three ODIs and the last two matches respectively. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chman added 112 runs off 91 balls for the second wicket, New Zealand against Sri Lanka. T20I, Hamilton, January 8, 2025 The series between New Zealand and India offered further insight into the evolving battle between bat and ball in T20 cricket. Adam Milne struck with his first ball to beat Abhishek Sharma, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Lower order runs put New Zealand A ahead despite runs from Mohammed Siraj and Mukesh Kumar Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan bowled all 11 overs before the end of play to reduce India A’s deficit to 46 runs. Mukesh Kumar runs to bowl, Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Cup, Day 2, Srinagar, October 2, 2026. India won the series 3-2, which included successfully chasing 226, with the youngsters rising under pressure to chase 199 in less than 14 overs. Admitting it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, Australia’s head coach insisted there had been a development in batting. Marnus Labuschagne leaves frustrated after falling to 37, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Durban, Day 4, October 12, 2026. Australia explained where things went wrong for Australia and what personnel changes are possible in the future. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald defended the number. Chances for Marnus Labuschagne, who looks certain to lose his place for the second time in 18 months after a meager tour of South Africa ended with a forgettable outing in Ce Town. But despite the 2-1 series loss that saw Australia bowled out for 99 and 111, McDonald saw encouraging signs in the batting department. He highlighted the performances of Cameron Green and Josh Inglis in the first innings of the final Test, with the latter scoring a century after a last-minute call-up as a replacement for the injured Steven Smith, while Matt Renshaw was the series’ top scorer.
McDonald also said he had seen nothing to suggest Smith’s difficult tour had brought him closer to retirement and suggested Nathan Lyon remained No. 1. 1, although he acknowledged that the team’s “age profile” remains under discussion. There doesn’t seem to be a world in which Labuschagne is part of the team that takes on New Zealand in Perth in early December.
He scored 0 and 4 at Newlands, taking him to a half-century in 16 Test innings and an average of 23.66 since his recall for last season’s Ashes. This sparked heavy criticism with former Australian slugger Simon Katich telling SEN that the selectors had “potentially ruined a man’s career” by not taking him out of the line sooner. However, even if they had agreed to drop Labuschagne for the decider, their hand would likely have been forced to play him due to Smith’s injury.
McDonald said he would not respond to Katich’s comments but argued any opportunity to play for Australia was worth it. “What I can say is that every chance you get to play for Australia doesn’t hurt you,” he said. “I think there’s even been criticism of some of our younger players, where they’ve been deployed and the damage that that can do to their careers and things like that.
“We believed in Marnus on this tour. We’ll have to reassess that as we move forward. Others will sit there and say what that means for him.
There will be a lot of speculation. There is still a very good cricketer there. Every time he drops back to state level, he outperforms the others.
“He’s had some opportunities that he’s missed on this tour in particular so that’ll be something in the next week or so that we’ll get our heads around. We are in no hurry to make decisions. There’s too much emotion.
But as I said, he didn’t take advantage of his chance on this tour. » Although McDonald admitted it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, when they were 1-0 up with only two crucial defeats, he insisted the team had moved on. “It’s still a very good cricket team with a lot of very good players,” he said. “Some legends of the game, or later they are recognized as legends of the game.
So we have to weigh up who is coming in and what the next decisions are. “If you look at the batting unit, I think we start in a stronger position with Green again, [although] it was an injury that affected him at the start of the series [for him], but for Inglis to have that chance, he has two Test hundreds away and we know how difficult it is to play away.” “The challenge is always greater when you play away in unfamiliar conditions and are challenged in different ways.
There’s a reason why many teams don’t win away from home. It’s hard and it’s no excuse. We felt like we were good enough to come here and win this series. “But we always have to make decisions, especially when it comes to the age group of our team.
We are probably asking ourselves the same questions as you. » McDonald also backed Green’s ability against spin after he struggled in Ce Town last day. After lunch, Green found himself only exposed to the pace and spin of Pat Cummins until Simon Harmer switched ends and took Green’s first ball of the new spell, although McDonald reiterated that the tactic was that they had been trying to get a draw. “I think I have to take you back to Galle [in 2022] when he reached the total of 70 in extreme conditions,” he said.
“He probably had a different game plan and method than he did [at Ce Town]. I think [that] scenario got him into a draw mentality. Against Harmer he was unable to find the rhythm.
We had a plan with two players on each side and tried to absorb that. “I think he is a good spin player. He’s got good reach.
He’s able to sweep. He is also able to use his feet in this area. I am confident that he will be successful despite all the challenges and conditions.” Regarding the New Zealand series, McDonald stated that Lyon’s position in the team was not at risk.
He took six wickets at 43.66 in the series – and was left out in favor of Scott Boland at St George’s Park – compared to Harmer’s 14 at 29.35. “I don’t think it’s something to reconsider now,” he said. “I think we’ll sit back and get through Shield cricket.
Nathan will prepare for the first Test match in Perth. McDonald said the “right decision” was made when Smith did not take part in the crucial test after his neck problem worsened following a nerve block injection on the morning of the game, having been confident he would be able to take part the day before. “It looked really positive the day before,” McDonald said. “But you never know how you’re going to get through it.
All I can say is that the medical team and Steve did their best. He wasn’t ready to play. He acknowledged that.
We put a lot of trust in our players, especially our older players who know their bodies very well. So I think Steve’s decision was the right decision.” “It hpened now. What do we need to do to ensure that something like this doesn’t hpen again and to best prepare him? McDonald hinted at a possible exit for Smith from the Sheffield Shield before New Zealand arrived for four Tests.
New South Wales will play two games in Sydney later in November, with these rounds also providing an additional opportunity for players outside the squad to make their case before the Test squad is named. While the Australian head coach admitted it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, he insisted there had been an evolution in batting. Marnus Labuschagne walks off frustrated after falling to 37, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Durban, Day 4, October 12, 2026. Australia talks about what went wrong for Australia and possible personnel changes in the future. After a series defeat, he insisted there had been an evolution in batting. While Australia’s head coach admitted it would be difficult to talk about positives in the immediate aftermath of a series defeat, he insisted there had been development in the batting.
