Third Test, Cape Town (day two of five)
South Africa 329: Ackerman 95; Starc 6-72
Australia 330-4: Inglis 85*; Jansen 2-37
Australia lead by one run
Scorecard
Marnus Labuschagne has been front and centre for an era of Australian cricket.
Chirping, chewing and, with bat in hand, often appearing to idolise and mimic his team-mate Steve Smith.
Smith has been ruled out of the enthralling decisive Test against South Africa with a neck injury.
Without him, Australia wanted their number three to feast at last chance saloon, where he has been perched for an eternity, on day two in Cape Town.
The 32-year-old lasted five deliveries and did not score a run.
Labuschagne failed to scored a Test century for the 48th time in a row – a new record for the number of innings an Australian top order batter has waited to raise his bat at three figures.
“That will never be broken,” said former Australia quick Jason Gillespie on ABC.
“I say that because, respectfully, I don’t think anyone will be given that length of time again.”
There was a time when, from his insertion into the 2019 Ashes as a concussion substitute until the end of England’s next quest to win back the urn, Labuschagne averaged 65 in Test cricket.
Repeat that over a Test career and only Sir Donald Bradman’s mark of 99.94 would be ahead.
Instead, since his last Test century at Old Trafford in 2023, he averages 24.77.
Labuschagne may get one more chance in this Test, should Australia not progress from their position of 330-4, leading by one run, and dismiss South Africa before needing to pad up again.
Even that may not be enough.
“I just feel it is too far gone now,” Gillespie added. “It is a very big sample size. Australia are at a point where they need to look elsewhere.”
Labuschagne’s technique has been pored over again and again as his slump progressed.
In August, the great Ricky Ponting, one of his predecessors as Australia’s number three, called for the axe to fall.
“He can’t score off the back foot,” was Ponting’s cutting remark.
Having batted nicely in three or four innings in this series only to give it away after reaching 30, here he was stuck on the crease, playing back to a full ball and nicking spinner Simon Harmer to slip.
“That’s nerves and the pressure the selectors have put him under for an extended period of time,” said former Australia batter Simon Katich on SEN Radio.
“They put him in this position by not making the decision to give him a breather.”
It felt like all of Labuschagne’s issues collapsing into one.