Recalled star\u2019s big statement on dominant Aussie day despite world No.1\u2019s double blow<\/a><\/p>\nMarnus gone for a DUCK! | 01:06<\/p>\n
\u2018WON\u2019T BE ANY WAY BACK\u2019 FROM LATEST MARNUS FAIL<\/p>\n
When Marnus Labuschagne was walking to the crease at Newlands on Wednesday, it was hard not to consider how surreal the situation was.<\/p>\n
It was a beautiful day at the world\u2019s most picturesque ground, a venue that serves as a celebration of the wonderful game that cricket is played at the altar to Table Mountain.<\/p>\n
Matthew Renshaw and Travis Head, until he chopped on again, had demonstrated this was a good day to bat when surviving and then thriving against the brilliant Proteas attack.<\/p>\n
For an in-form batsman, this was a day to shine. But Labuschange looked like a condemned man, which is scarcely surprising given the long-lasting lament that brought him to now, with his spot in the Australian team effectively gone.<\/p>\n
The sense of anticipation was apparent in the South Africans as he walked grim-faced to the crease. As former Protea Vernon Philander said, this is a team that hunts like a pack. <\/p>\n
And Labuschagne was wounded. The Proteas knew it. It beggars belief that the Australians did not know it. There was no sense of purpose. Not a hint of belief whatsoever.<\/p>\n
David Warner is no stranger to stirring up tension around the crease and he said on Kayo Sports the Proteas, who noted Labuschagne had been chatty in the field, were circling on the No.3 before he had even faced a ball. <\/p>\n
Marnus’ career in doubt? | 01:50<\/p>\n
![\"CAPE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/bdb723b1df461b5c15ab86e50e0392f2.jpeg\")
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 28: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia walks off after being dismissed during day 2 of the 3rd Dafabet Test match between South Africa and Australia at YesPlay Newlands on October 28, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher – Gallo Images\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Queenslander lasted five balls against Simon Harmer and was out edging a nothing shot to a ball where his feet did not move. It was a tepid thrust from a broken batsman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d be second nature to come down the ground and knock that to mid-on. It\u2019s a decent ball, but it shouldn\u2019t get you out, not a No.3 at international level,\u201d former Australian great Mark Waugh said on Kayo Sports. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe should have been forward, should have pushed it down the ground. He was tentative and he\u2019s not getting much luck by the same token at the moment. He\u2019s given one chance and he\u2019s gone.\u201d <\/p>\n
When Labuschagne gets out, a notable trait has been how slow his amble back to the pavilion is. He loves batting. But on Wednesday he could not get off quickly enough.<\/p>\n
Anyone who watched him in the main nets session on Sunday noted he was struggling. Always so enthusiastic, Labuschagne laboured in his movement. His usual eagerness to get into the nets was lacking. And when he went in far later than usual he kept edging his mates.<\/p>\n
On Monday he was given a circuit-breaker. Put the bat away. Go relax. Pick up a golf club.<\/p>\n
But an observer who knows him well sensed on Tuesday it had not worked. He looked stressed in the team hotel and especially tense when he walked to the nets to bat as well.<\/p>\n
According to Simon Katich, who has been commentating on the series being broadcast back to Australia on Fox Sports, the blame for the predicament should be shared. <\/p>\n
The former Test opener has been saying throughout the series Labuschagne, who now holds the record for the most innings by a top-order batter without a century, needed a break. That he should have been sent back to the Sheffield Shield before this series.<\/p>\n
There was an issue, of course, arriving at Newlands, for Beau Webster and Nic Maddinson were also out of form. Labuschagne would have played even before the Steve Smith saga.<\/p>\n
But it was apparent on Sunday that he was struggling and this has furthered the anguish.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s nerves and that\u2019s the pressure the Australian selectors have put him under for an extended period of time. They deserve to be in the same situation as him here,\u201d Katich said on SEN. <\/p>\n
\u2018\u201cThey put him in this position by not making the decision to give him a breather. I feel for him. I\u2019ve been through it and it is not pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no certainty Labuschagne has another innings in this Test to come given how well his teammates batted on Day 2. For a man of faith, there is always hope. But as Katich had noted a day earlier, you cannot get by in Test cricket on hope alone.<\/p>\n
And unless something miraculous happens, former Australian spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe is worried about whether there will be a path back to Test cricket for a player once ranked the world\u2019s best Test batsman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the thing is, if he doesn\u2019t get runs in the second innings, then the regeneration of this team will start with Marnus, and there won\u2019t be any way back because they should give those that come in an extended chance to secure themselves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarnus has served grandly. There\u2019s no denying he\u2019s been a great servant of this Test team, but his average is now in free fall and he\u2019s not playing like the number three should.\u201d<\/p>\n
At stumps, it was said Labuschagne was in reasonable spirits and his teammate Matthew Renshaw rallied around him afterwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously Marn is a great mate of mine (and) obviously as batters, we can get out at any point,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, today was a short one for him. But the way that he\u2019s been moving around, what I\u2019ve seen the first two tests, he\u2019s been moving probably as well as I\u2019ve seen him bat. <\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, sometimes we need a bit of luck, and that\u2019s cricket. But the way that he\u2019s he\u2019s going, I think that it\u2019s it\u2019s very close. It\u2019s just letting it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
AUSSIE ACT IN WAKE OF RIFT REPORTS<\/p>\n
Prior to play at Newlands on Wednesday morning, the Australian team gathered in the nets at Newlands and circled on each other before engaging in a team embrace. <\/p>\n
There was a risk in doing that if they were prone to believing in superstitions, for the last time they were spotted doing this was in Gqeberha last week when they were all out for 99.<\/p>\n
The backdrops were reports about cliques in the dressing room and a supposed rift between the bowlers and the batters. Colour the foxsports.com.au team shocked!<\/p>\n
The absence of Steve Smith from the Newlands Test has inflamed chatter about a potential divide in the Australian locker room, but this is not necessarily a new phenomenon in cricket.<\/p>\n
Several of Kayo Sport\u2019s expert analysts were famously part of an outstanding Australian cricket team where the squad was split into two camps – the \u201cjulios\u201d and the \u201cnerds\u201d.<\/p>\n
The last time the Aussies were at Newlands was an infamous one that led to Smith losing his captaincy, while he, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all issued extended bans.<\/p>\n
But as former Australian captain Tim Paine noted in his autobiography The Price Paid, there was a split in the dressing room then, though it was not in any way considered a big deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cCricketers keep to themselves a lot, even in the happiest teams,\u201d Paine wrote. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s coaches and players, batters and bowlers, cliques and mates. Coffee clubs, bowling cartels, walking groups, bonds formed in junior or state cricket, bonds formed on the road with the national team.<\/p>\n
\u201c(There are) conversations in corners, thoughts kept private, things and things not shared.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is no different in the current outfit. When quizzed about Smith on Sunday, captain Pat Cummins said he had been contributing and catching up with his \u201ccoffee club\u201d and so on.<\/p>\n
What is indisputable is that the bowlers have been gritting their teeth about the collective form of the batting group, with Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Smith and Cameron Green more recently those who have performed, though rarely as a collective unit in a Test match.<\/p>\n
There were pointed references during the Bangladesh series and in South Africa about the importance of building partnerships, of putting a price on wickets, of engaging in \u201cthe grind\u201d.<\/p>\n
That is understandable. If it has caused any tension among those holding the bat, perhaps they would do well to look in the mirror more regularly to conjure days like Wednesday, where everyone bar Labuschagne batted well.<\/p>\n
What is also indisputable is that the late withdrawal of Smith on the morning of the Test surprised some of the Australians, with star bowler Mitchell Starc among them, as he noted in a press conference after his stunning finale with the ball on Tuesday night in Cape Town.<\/p>\n
Whether it makes a difference on the end result is arguable, for it is a team that keeps winning.<\/p>\n
But that gathering on Wednesday morning was all about being prepared to dig in and fight through the tough periods, Renshaw said, which they managed to do while their superstar No.4 was on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew that they were going to come hard through periods and it was just about building partnerships,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve sort of hinted at some partnerships over the first two Tests, probably more so with the bowlers. So it was just about the batters trying to build some partnerships out there and fortunately today we had a couple of good ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
EVERY ball of Starc’s new ball spell | 01:57<\/p>\n
AUSSIES LEARN WHAT WE ALL KNEW<\/p>\n
Coming into this series, everyone believed that Renshaw was going to be Australia\u2019s solution to its opening conundrum.<\/p>\n
Then the dogged left-hander was moved to No.5 in the absence of Cameron Green and after Pat Cummins had a hunch from watching his stellar play of spin bowling in the preceding ODIs.<\/p>\n
Renshaw justified the move with an epic 190 and 82 in Durban, but on day two in Cape Town, he showed why he was initially recalled to partner Travis Head at the top of the order.<\/p>\n
Renshaw replaced Jake Weatherald against Bangladesh not only because of his excellent form in white-ball cricket but because he also compiled three centuries in ten Sheffield Shield innings last summer.<\/p>\n
The Queenslander averaged just shy of 50 opening the batting and after showing a promise as a spirited, but green, Test opener as a youngster almost a decade ago, it appeared his time had finally come.<\/p>\n
His 74 at Newlands showed that it truly has with his time in the middle order a brief, but successful, experiment.<\/p>\n
Renshaw would have been bitterly disappointed to have fallen to a Marco Jansen short ball on the cusp of tea and to have not kicked on to a third Test century.<\/p>\n
But the 30-year-old showed all the outstanding traits from his Durban masterclass against the new ball.<\/p>\n
He left well, punched down the ground when the South African quicks over pitched and flicked off his pads when they got to straight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think as long as I keep trusting what I\u2019m trying to do, seeing that opening is a challenge that I\u2019m looking forward to,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve done it my whole career, so it\u2019s not like I\u2019ve never opened the batting. I came here thinking that I was going to open the batting for three Tests and fortunately I had a little bit of a sleep-in at five and now coming back to opening, it was just trying to be really positive and trusting that the stuff I did in the first two Tests could relate to opening the batting.\u201d<\/p>\n
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 28: Cameron Green and Matthew Renshaw of Australia shakes hands during day 2 of the 3rd Dafabet Test match between South Africa and Australia at YesPlay Newlands on October 28, 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher\/Gallo Images\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
It was a simple style that showed why former teammate Usman Khawaja decreed on Kayo Sports last week that Renshaw is a ready-made Test opener.<\/p>\n
The absence of Steve Smith also allowed Cameron Green to relish the chance to bat at No.4, the position where he has churned out runs for several years for Western Australia and where the national selectors have been eager to deploy him.<\/p>\n
Green has long been viewed as Smith\u2019s heir apparent at second drop, but his time may come sooner than expected.<\/p>\n
He was thrust into the No.4 position in early 2024 and smacked a memorable century against New Zealand in Wellington as Smith opened the batting.<\/p>\n
Khawaja revealed that \u201cSmudge loves batting three\u201d and with Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s struggles, a promotion could come against the Kiwis in Perth on December 9, with Cricket Australia saying Smith should be fit for the series.<\/p>\n
Green is in fine form. His 65 in the first innings of this Test followed scores of 67 and 104 in his two previous Test innings against Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Those Top End knocks came from No.5, but Green showed the temperament that as Australia navigates a marathon ten months ahead of Test cricket, that he is ready to step up.<\/p>\n
He withstood several short ball barrages and picked his moments to counter attack on day two – most notably when hooking Kagiso Rabada for back-to-back sixes over square leg.<\/p>\n
Like Renshaw, he would have been disappointed not to kick on, but the blue print was drawn.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s selectors may now be compelled to look towards a top four of Head, Renshaw, Smith and Green to start the home summer, with Josh Inglis slotting into the middle order alongside Alex Carey following their half-centuries.<\/p>\n
Importantly, Inglis was effective against the spin of Simon Harmer, who has bowled extremely well this series, with a view to the tour of India on the horizon. <\/p>\n
He had previously scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka on a spinning deck in Galle last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s got a lot of different options,\u201d Renshaw said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s obviously got both sweeps. He can hit down the ground. He can hit over mid wicket. He is a very good player of spin. So I think that that\u2019s the positive, and it doesn\u2019t really give them anywhere to to bowl. (He is a) very good player of spin.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I’m not in that pay bracket…” | 07:30<\/p>\n
\u2018WHITE LINE FEVER\u2019 PROTEAS \u2018PICK FIGHT\u2019<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Grade Cricketer in the days lead up to this Test, Simon Harmer shared his belief that the long-standing tensions between the two nations could \u201ccome to a head\u201d in Cape Town.<\/p>\n
His comments came after Harmer shed light on the war of words that erupted in Gqeberha.<\/p>\n
As the South African spinner compiled a career-best 82 and his skipper Temba Bavuma piled on a career-best 179, Harmer said Australian captain Pat Cummins shared his belief that the hosts were batting on too long on day three.<\/p>\n
Cummins\u2019 words backfired, but they gave context to the obvious verbal barrage that took place as Australia were made to follow-on and were lost 19 wickets on days four and five to lose the Test match.<\/p>\n
Marco Jansen was the ring leader for South Africa, giving Beau Webster a send-off, and he seemed to have brought more of his teammates along with him at Newlands.<\/p>\n
Former South African captain Faf du Plessis once compared the Australians to \u201ca pack of dogs\u201d in the field, but it was the hosts who were howling and snarling at times on day two.<\/p>\n
They were wicketless in the first hour, but South Africa bided their time until Marnus Labuschagne came to the crease.<\/p>\n
As Matt Renshaw and Travis Head put together Australia\u2019s first 50-run opening stand against the Proteas since the infamous sandpaper Test at the same venue eight years ago, an unknown South African player could be heard in the stump mic declaring that his team were waiting for the main event.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet that annoying No.3 in here,\u201d he bellowed.<\/p>\n
South Africa’s Simon Harmer (L) celebrates after dismissing Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne on day two of the third Test match between South Africa and Australia at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on October 28, 2026. (Photo by Marco Longari \/ AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n
Once they did get Labuschagne into the middle after Head\u2019s chop-on, the South Africans raised their intensity to a whole new level.<\/p>\n
They hunted the under-fire Queenslander and were rewarded with a timid prod off the back foot to edge Harmer to slip for a fifth ball duck.<\/p>\n
Harmer then led a massive celebration that was topped off by Matthew Breetzke leaping across the pitch, while staring at a stunned Labuschagne and fist bumping.<\/p>\n
Former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian described Breetzke on Kayo Sports as \u201cthe impala there, running across the pitch\u201d.<\/p>\n
While former Australian opener David Warner said that was celebration was payback for Labuschagne\u2019s \u201cchitter chatter from yesterday\u201d.<\/p>\n
The South Africans were cockahoop again after lunch when Harmer claimed that he caught Cameron Green at second slip.<\/p>\n
Green stood his ground, however, and was vindicated as replayed showed the ball bounce into Harmer\u2019s hands despite his big celebration.<\/p>\n
The host\u2019s frustrations led to a more sustained short ball tactic to Renshaw and Green. The duo put on 126, but wore several deliveries on the body and the gloves, until Jansen landed a double blow on the cusp of tea.<\/p>\n
The Queenslander feathered a short ball through to wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton and was given his marching orders on review.<\/p>\n
It was the ICC No.1 ranked Test bowler and Test all-rounder\u2019s 100th Test wicket – coming at just 20.88 – and it was also sweet payback.<\/p>\n
Former South African pace bowler Vernon Philander said on commentary that Jansen told him Renshaw \u201cgave him a bit of lip\u201d when he came out to bat yesterday and would have enjoyed that wicket even more as a result.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it is bat or ball, he is picking a fight every time, and he has certainly picked the right time for a fight here,\u201d Philander said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAway from the game he is probably one of the most chilled guys, but within the game, he has got a little bit of that white line fever.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Africa’s Marco Jansen (L) celebrates after the dismissal of Australia’s Cameron Green (R) during day two of the third Test match between South Africa and Australia at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on October 28, 2026. (Photo by Marco Longari \/ AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n
Renshaw, who was the first to go, said later he loved the challenge that comes with tackling the South Africans and said it had been pretty feisty.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, I\u2019ve not played Test cricket for a long time, so I\u2019m a bit of out of the feel of the teams. But when you\u2019ve got Jansen bowling and then Rabata comes on and then Harmer is bowling, you\u2019ve got all of them coming in pretty hard at you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s pretty big contests, and then even with the ball, when you get a few wickets, and you\u2019re like, \u2018Okay, Jansen is coming in at seven, so … they\u2019re a very good team.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in their backyard. It\u2019s obviously pretty tough. We we had the luck of it in the first Test and they had a really strong performance in that second. It\u2019s my first probably dip into Test cricket again (but) it\u2019s been a pretty feisty.\u201d<\/p>\n
BIG TASK STILL AHEAD OF AUSSIE BATTERS<\/p>\n
Australia needs to ram home the advantage on Thursday morning in Cape Town because what has been a superb batting pitch so far will start to deteriorate according to former Proteas seamer Vernon Philander.<\/p>\n
With every Australian batsman aside from the out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne in the runs on Wednesday, the tourists are in a position to build a significant first innings lead.<\/p>\n
But Philander, who famously ripped through the Aussies when they were all out for 47 when in a match-winning position at Newlands back in 2011, expects the pitch to worsen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the beauty of Test match cricket. We are so quick to expect results,\u201d Philander said on SEN. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut this is a really good batting surface still. I don\u2019t think we have seen any batting demons. We have not seen any lateral movement, nor have we seen a lot of turn. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to commend (the Australians) for the application they have shown. They have done an excellent job. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut can they drive home the advantage? I do feel first innings runs will be important. I do get the feeling days four and five will be a batter\u2019s nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Australian opener Simon Katich concurs, saying that if the wicket holds and the tourists are able to bat for a decent period tomorrow, they would be in a commanding position. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey have to hope this wicket holds. It is still playing very well. And it expect it to hold,\u201d Katich said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia wants to bat tomorrow and well into tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australia is in the lead at stumps on day two after a superb batting day in Cape Town…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":944851,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[564],"tags":[64,63,740,85],"class_list":["post-944850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cricket","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/944850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=944850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/944850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/944851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=944850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=944850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=944850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}