Photo via Sportstar

SA vs AUS: Australia coach McDonald backs his boys despite series loss in South Africa

Following a two-to-one series defeat against South Africa that surrendered the top spot in the world rankings and threatened qualification for the World Test Championship final, Australian head coach Andrew McDonald defended his squad against heavy media backlash. The decisive final encounter at Newlands saw the tourists collapse to a score of one hundred eleven chasing two hundred eighty-eight, prompting severe scrutiny regarding the management of an aging roster.

McDonald specifically addressed the struggles of top-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne, whose returns averaged just twenty-one across the matches, while clarifying that veteran Steve Smith remains part of upcoming plans against New Zealand despite missing the final fixture due to a neck issue.

Up nextCricket· 3h ago

Watch: Lizelle Lee’s big keeping error costs Hurricanes a last-ball win over Renegades