Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne set for South Africa Test after first ton in 11 months

  • Batter makes 111 against Cricket South Africa Invitation XI

  • Three-match Test series starts in Durban on Friday

The indefatigable Marnus Labuschagne has responded to all the hand-wringing 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.

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England call up spinner Mason Crane eight years after his solitary Test cap

  • Replaces Rehan Ahmed in ODI squad to Pakistan

  • Archer rested for tri-series that begins on 18 October

Nearly nine years on from his solitary Test cap in Sydney comes an England recall for Mason Crane. The leg-spinner has been named in England’s squad for the one-day international tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. England will fly to Islamabad on 15 October for a round-robin mini-tournament that serves as preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup. The three teams play each other twice in the group stage, before the top two meet for the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October.

Jos Buttler will miss the trip due to his recent hamstring tear and Jofra Archer is being rested at the start of a busy winter. But there are returns for Adil Rashid and Sam Curran after injury and a spot for James Coles, while the most eye-catching move is Crane usurping Rehan Ahmed as the back-up wrist-spinner.

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