- ‘Don’t know what he was thinking’ – Harmer’s surprise at Labuschagne’s shot Australia’s No.
- 3 tried to take on the wind and failed to he further pressure on his position The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Simon Harmer knew what he was doing, and he was surprised that Marnus Labuschagne fell into the tr.
- Harmer then watched as Labuschagne danced down the pitch and tried to hit into the wind only to see the ball hang in the air and Marco Jansen take a superbly judged catch.
‘Don’t know what he was thinking’ – Harmer’s surprise at Labuschagne’s shot Australia’s No.
3 tried to take on the wind and failed to he further pressure on his position The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Simon Harmer knew what he was doing, and he was surprised that Marnus Labuschagne fell into the tr. Harmer then watched as Labuschagne danced down the pitch and tried to hit into the wind only to see the ball hang in the air and Marco Jansen take a superbly judged catch. Labuschagne roared in anger and continued to show visible emotion as he walked off.
“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Harmer said. “Obviously, I’ve played a lot of cricket at St George’s Park and it funnels through that corner of the old stand and the duck pond. A lot of times you think you’ve got enough of it, but it just gets held up in the wind.
“I’m sure he’ll be dispointed in hindsight, especially when they were looking to draw the Test. He’s a world-class player and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.” South Africa ctain Temba Bavuma also said how the wind can add to home advantage if opposition batters don’t make adjustments. “I think those are just the nuances of playing here in St George’s,” he said.
You can kind of see a shortish boundary and you can underestimate the fact that the wind plays a factor, you know. So, yeah, he didn’t get all of it, all of that ball; Marnus and the wind did what it did, right? It held it [up] and, probably had to guy with the safest hands within the team, Marco Jansen, to catch it.
So I think those are the small things playing here in St George’s, if you haven’t played, they can get you.” Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 It was Labuschagne’s fifth score between 31 and 39 in his last eight Test innings and his career once again on the brink, although there is a chance he survives for the decider in Ce Town. “He’s actually doing the hard bit, he’s getting to 30,” ctain Pat Cummins said after the defeat. “I think he’s got to find a way to turn those into bigger scores; 30s aren’t going to win you many matches.” Labuschagne was previously dropped in mid-2025 after the World Test Championship final against South Africa, where he had been given what became a one-off chance to open.
He only ended up missing three Tests in the West Indies before returning for the Ashes but has now gone 14 innings without a fifty. “It’s always the challenge of, do you give someone one more game or do you feel like now’s the right time to make a move?” Cummins said. “So that’s what will be spoken about in the next few days.
I think we will probably have [Cameron] Green and Josh Inglis available for next week so I’m sure their names will get thrown around as well when we try and work out 11. But it’s always that delicate balance. Do we feel like someone’s just about to turn the corner and they’re going to be away, or does it now feel like the right time for a change-up?” Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster are also under pressure for their spots heading into the final Test.
Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026
