Australia’s preparations for the third Test in Cape Town took an intriguing turn on Sunday, with Marnus Labuschagne’s behavior during a net session fueling widespread speculation about his position in the starting XI. As the team looks to recover from a heavy innings defeat in Gqeberha, the 32-year-old’s conduct at Newlands stood out for its lack of customary intensity. Accompanied by Josh Inglis, who appeared ready for action after returning to fitness, Labuschagne spent much of his time bowling leg-spin, mimicking the style of the late Shane Warne, rather than engaging in his usual energetic batting drills. Mainly impersonating the late Shane Warne’s action, it was more him going through the motions. All peppy and trying to get the better of the two batters, who were soon joined by Beau Webster on the centre-wicket, this wasn’t the usual Marnus. There were enough cues in there to suggest that Labuschagne might have been informed about being left out of the decider that starts on Tuesday. With extra focus on certain players, went about their main training session at Newlands, that meant that Sunday was all about spotting and analysing even the slightest of divergences in how Australia. Where you’d see him protest or at least question whether the ball ‘would have carried to the slips’, he simply stood there unhappy with himself for having made the error, but in contrast to his usual reactions to ‘getting out’ in the nets.
The atmosphere surrounding the session grew particularly conspicuous when Labuschagne walked away after bowling fewer than a dozen deliveries to consult with head coach Andrew McDonald and Steve Smith. The three held an animated, 20-minute discussion, during which Smith was seen offering a gesture of comfort to his teammate. By the time Labuschagne finally began his batting practice against bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland, most of the primary session had already concluded. His performance in the nets was noticeably underwhelming; he was dismissed three times by seamers—once each by Hazlewood, Boland, and Beau Webster—without displaying his characteristic frustration or questioning the deliveries. Who batted for only around 15 minutes in the nets at the back, and head coach Andrew McDonald, labuschagne must have bowled fewer than a dozen deliveries before he walked off to join Steve Smith. As you’d expect with Smith and Labuschagne involved, and at one point, the senior partner put a comforting arm around his fellow batting buff, it was an animated chat.
This subdued demeanor, combined with a lack of his usual reliance on throwdowns from Michael Di Venuto, prompted questions about whether he had been informed of his exclusion from the upcoming decider. However, some observers noted that he could simply be struggling with the pressure of a prolonged period of scrutiny, or perhaps adjusting to a different role within the top order. The uncertainty regarding his status is compounded by the return of Cameron Green and Inglis, forcing the team management to consider significant reshuffles to their batting lineup. There are of course a bunch of different selection scenarios that the visitors will be forced to consider. Who’s been under fire for nearly a couple of years, finally letting the pressure show on him, maybe it was just a case of a top-order batter.
Meanwhile, other players appeared more settled during training. Green impressed during his session, facing a mix of throwdowns from James Franklin and deliveries from Michael Neser. His extended time batting against the new ball has led to suggestions that he could potentially move into the No. 3 position, a role he occupied in the West Indies last year. Matt Renshaw, who also spent time practicing against the new ball, remains a factor, though both he and Travis Head were absent from Sunday’s optional training. 3 dragged his kit along having a chat.
Bowling preparations remained rigorous as the squad looks to adapt to the changing nature of the pitch. All four fast bowlers participated in high-intensity sessions, while spinner Nathan Lyon put in a long spell before joining Mitchell Starc for laps around the perimeter. With grass cover on the Newlands surface steadily decreasing, Lyon is a strong contender to return to the playing XI, though the specific bowling combination remains a subject of intense internal debate. The fit-again Western Australian right-hander walked straight into the net to face Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Ultimately, the day was defined by analysis of minor deviations in the team’s routine as they prepare for a crucial test. Whether Labuschagne’s quiet morning in the nets was a symptom of his personal form or a direct signal of his selection status remains unclear. As is often the case with a touring side under pressure, every action was scrutinized for clues, yet any firm conclusion regarding the final team composition remains elusive until the first ball is bowled on Tuesday.
