Under-fire No.3 batter Marnus Labuschagne has retained his spot in Australia's Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa, where the two teams play three red-ball games from October 9 after the ODI leg of the tour. This will be the first time Australia play a Test series in South Africa since the infamous tour of 2018, which was rocked by the ball-tampering saga. Just five players remain from that tour: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw - a late addition to the squad back then after the suspensions to Warner, Smith and Bancroft.

Following a defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin, Australia were expected to ring in big changes, with the focus on Labuschagne potentially losing his place. Cricket Australia dropped him from the ODI squad, but have retained him in Tests despite his lowly returns of 1, 31 and 4 in the two Tests against Bangladesh. Labuschagne's last Test hundred came in Manchester three years ago.

While Cricket Australia didn't give in to the urge of chopping and changing too much, it has roped in the highly-impressive Cooper Connolly, who debuted in the format last year in Sri Lanka but has just one Test cap to his name. Matthew Kunhemann and Michael Neser are the other two additions.

Kunhemann offers left-arm spin variety to complement the offspin Nathan Lyon, while Neser brings all-round skills that could be handy in South Africa. Neser returns after missing the Bangladesh fixtures due to a calf injury. After a dream Ashes 2025-26, where he picked 15 wickets in three outings, Neser could be in line to feature against the country of his birth on this tour.

Australia have also retained Renshaw as Travis Head's opening partner. Renshaw replaced Jake Weatherald in the aftermath of the defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin. He was rewarded with a spot for the Mackay Test on the back of being the best Sheffield Shield opener the previous season where he scored three centuries in 10 innings. Renshaw got out for eight runs in the only innings he batted in, in the Mackay Test but has been trusted with the job in South Africa.

The first of the three Tests will be played at Kingsmead Durban from October 9. The action will then shift to St. George's Park in Gqeberha from October 18 before the series closes out at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27.