Sports

Cummins to Lead Full-Strength Australian Squad in South Africa Test Tour

By icc

Cricket Australia has named a 16-player squad for its upcoming three-Test series against South Africa, marking the teams' first meeting since South Africa defeated Australia in last year's World Test Championship Final at Lord's. The series, beginning in Durban on October 9, will play a key role in determining which team advances to next year's WTC final at The Oval.

Captain Pat Cummins will lead a squad that includes all of Australia's leading fast bowlers, among them Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Spinner Nathan Lyon retains his place and will be supported by uncapped left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who returns after being called up as cover for varying conditions in South Africa.

Batter Marnus Labuschagne has been retained despite a difficult run of form, having not scored a century since July 2023. He joins a batting lineup featuring Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith and Cooper Connolly, while all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster also earn selection.

Three players who were left out of Australia's recent home series against Bangladesh have been added to the squad: Connolly, Kuhnemann and Michael Neser, brought in as additional options for the different conditions expected on tour.

Chair of selectors George Bailey explained the reasoning behind the squad composition, saying the series follows six one-day internationals and features only short breaks between matches. "The squad provides balance and options for each Test and the variety of conditions we may face," he said.

This will be Australia's first Test tour of South Africa since the controversial 2018 series. Only five members of the current squad — Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Smith and Renshaw — have previous experience touring the country with the national team.

Australia currently top the World Test Championship standings, with South Africa, the reigning champions, sitting in second place.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), 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, Beau Webster.

Series schedule: First Test: October 9-13, Durban Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha Third Test: October 27-31, Johannesburg