Marnus Labuschagne (Source: AFP)Marnus Labuschagne’s struggles in Test cricket continued during Australia’s first Test against South Africa in Durban in October 2026.The right-handed batter managed 37 runs in Australia’s first innings before being dismissed by Wiaan Mulder, failing to provide the substantial contribution his team needed after an early collapse.His performance added to the scrutiny surrounding his place in the Australian Test side, particularly after a prolonged drought of centuries in the format.Labuschagne’s first-innings dismissal was followed by another score of 37 in Australia’s second innings, creating an unusual coincidence. Despite the attention surrounding his recent return to form in a warm-up match, he has continued to struggle to convert starts into significant scores for his team.Marnus Labuschagne’s Decline In Test CricketMarnus Labuschagne established himself as one of Australia’s most dependable Test batters after a remarkable rise in 2018-19. His patience, concentration and ability to build long innings helped him become a mainstay in the top order. However, his recent performances have fallen short of those standards.His difficulties were evident during Australia’s 2025-26 Ashes campaign, when he struggled to produce consistent scores against England. ALSO READPerform Or Perish! Marnus Labuschagne Issued Ultimatum By Australian GreatHis subsequent performances against Bangladesh also raised concerns. Labuschagne managed just 36 runs across three innings in the two-Test series, including scores of 1, 31 and 4.The poor run prompted questions about his long-term future in the Test side. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed concerns about Labuschagne’s technical issues and suggested that selectors had been patient for a considerable period. With younger batters competing for places, the pressure on Labuschagne to deliver significant scores has increased.When Was The Last Time Marnus Labuschagne Scored A Century In Test Cricket?Marnus Labuschagne’s last Test century came against England during the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester in July 2023.He scored 111 runs from 161 deliveries in Australia’s second innings, helping the visitors fight back after losing early wickets. His innings included 10 fours and two sixes, and he was eventually dismissed by Joe Root.That hundred was Labuschagne’s 11th in Test cricket and came at a time when Australia needed resilience to remain competitive in the match. However, he has not managed another Test century since then, extending his drought across more than three years and 40 innings.There was some encouragement ahead of the South Africa series when Labuschagne scored 111 off 89 balls in a warm-up match against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Potchefstroom in October 2026.The aggressive innings suggested that he had rediscovered some of his rhythm, but a warm-up match does not count towards his Test-century tally.For Labuschagne, the challenge now is to translate that form into international red-ball cricket. With his position under scrutiny, another substantial Test innings could be crucial to rebuild confidence and silence questions about his future in Australia’s batting order.ALSO READAbhishek Sharma Record At Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad Ahead Of IND vs WI 4th T20I
