Marnus Labuschagne’s Test place is under renewed pressure after a costly dismissal in Gqeberha left Australia facing a decisive final match against South Africa. The series is level at 1-1, with the third Test due to begin in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Labuschagne had begun to build a partnership with Travis Head during Australia’s second innings when he attempted to attack Simon Harmer. The shot was held up by the strong wind at St George’s Park, allowing Marco Jansen to take the catch at deepish mid-on.
The dismissal ended hopes of a long-awaited substantial score for Labuschagne and strengthened the case for Australia’s selectors to consider their options before the final Test.
Harmer, who played extensively at the ground and is familiar with its coastal conditions, had recognised that the gap between the western stand and the Duck Pond End could affect lofted shots. He deliberately gave the ball more flight and invited Labuschagne to hit into the breeze.
“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Harmer said with a laugh. “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, and 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 disappointed in hindsight, especially when they were looking to draw the Test.”
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said the conditions at St George’s Park could catch out players unfamiliar with the ground, particularly when the wind was blowing across the narrow space between the stands.
“You can see a shortish boundary … you can underestimate the fact that the wind plays a factor,” Bavuma said. “He didn’t get all of that ball, Marnus, and the wind did what it did.”
Labuschagne’s run of starts without a major score has become a central concern. Bavuma, who made 179 after South Africa had fallen to 6-110 early on the third day, said the Australian was experiencing the frustration of repeatedly reaching 30 or 40 without going on.
“From what I’ve learned, it’s more a mental thing, and I think only he will know what’s happening in his head when he gets into those moments,” Bavuma said. “I think the moment he sees himself getting past those moments, that’s when he’ll kind of get his confidence and belief.”
South Africa, meanwhile, have drawn confidence from recovering to win in Gqeberha after losing the opening Test in Durban. Bavuma said his side had been more aggressive in its approach without necessarily seeking confrontation with Australia.
“Look for opportunities to make the play for the team, and be ruthless in doing so,” he said. “There’s obviously certain individuals within the team who enjoy a little argy bargy, and I mean, you allow those guys to go about doing that within the rules.”
Bavuma also said South Africa had been forced to confront the expectations that come with being the reigning world champions, after winning last year’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
“Everyone wants us to show our mettle as the current world champions, and everything that we do is under the microscope,” he said. “Our performance, the game up in Durban, was a realisation of that, but also a realisation of what it means coming up against super-strong opposition.”
With the series now poised for a deciding Test, Labuschagne faces another examination of his place in Australia’s batting order while South Africa seek the victory that would reinforce their status at the top of the Test game.
