Labuschagne scores century ahead of South Africa Test, Ponting questions his place

Marnus Labuschagne has responded to the debate over whether he merits a place in Australia's Test future by just doing what he likes doing best — scoring runs.

After a difficult year, the under-pressure 32-year-old chose the most timely moment to score his first century in any form of cricket for 11 months in Potchefstroom, just five days before Australia play their first Test in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Former skipper Ricky Ponting had joined the chorus that Labuschagne's place in Australia had become "untenable" after three years and 43 Tests without a Test ton, capped by three failures in the recent Bangladesh series.

Yet the South African-born batter looks sure to fill the number three spot once more in the first Test that starts in Durban on Friday after his swift century against a modest Cricket South Africa Invitation XI attack.

Labuschagne was largely untroubled as he raced to a 76-ball ton, going on to 111 from 89, decorated with 19 fours, before retiring to let his colleagues also get in some batting practice on the final day of the two-day warm-up match.

They enjoyed the opportunity too, with Steve Smith also retiring after making 61 while Alex Carey, fresh from his fine form in the third ODI, hit another half-century (57) as Pat Cummins' Australian side rattled up 6-368 in the drawn game.

Smith, who received a 12-month ban when captain for his role in altering the condition of the ball with sandpaper at Cape Town on the infamous tour eight years ago, is back with a group of other survivors from that tour — Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Matt Renshaw.

Those four could all play on Friday.

Renshaw looked completely recovered from a knock to his right wrist, but may feel he missed out by being dismissed for 32 off his 50 balls, as may his fellow opener Travis Head (21 off 22 balls).

Beau Webster brushed off a few cobwebs with his 42 off 88 balls before he retired.

All eyes, though, were on Labuschagne, who even had a bit of local support as he took the crease at Senwes Park, a venue less than 50km from where he was born in Klerksdorp and the emotional scene of his first ODI hundred for Australia back in 2020.

Australia will see it as a useful workout after they gave 11 bowlers a run-out on Saturday when the Invitation XI declared on 7-318 after a century from former Proteas captain Neil Brand.

Meanwhile, South Africa paceman Anrich Nortje is in line for a remarkable return to first-class cricket after an absence of three-and-a-half years to help the injury-hit Proteas' attack.

With fitness doubts over key strike bowler Kagiso Rabada and three others, Nortje could return to Tests for the first time since March 2023 after a series of back and hip problems that left him concentrating on white-ball formats to reduce the strain on his body.

"I'll be very excited if I can put my Test cap on again. Growing up, ⁠it's the format you want to play," he said on Sunday, the day before he's expected to be named in South Africa's Test squad of 15.