Former Australia batter Michael Hussey has thrown his support behind Marnus Labuschagne amid growing pressure on the national Test team following their disappointing performance against South Africa in Gqeberha. While several players face questions over their places, Hussey believes Labuschagne has shown encouraging signs despite struggling to convert promising starts into substantial scores. Australia endured a difficult fourth day at St George’s Park, collapsing to just 99 in their first innings and being forced to follow on for only the third time since 1988.

The visitors finished the day at 156/4 in their second innings but still trailed South Africa by 170 runs, leaving them facing the prospect of a damaging defeat. The team’s struggles have intensified calls for changes, with Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster among those facing scrutiny. Labuschagne has attracted particular attention after his dismissal for 39 while attempting to attack spinner Simon Harmer late on the fourth day.

Commentator Gerard Whateley called for the right-hander to be dropped, saying on SEN that he “has to be dropped now. Just as a matter of principle”. However, Hussey offered a different perspective, pointing out that Labuschagne has regularly managed to settle at the crease during the series but has failed to build on his starts.

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“I feel like he’s looking quite good throughout the whole series,” Michael Hussey told Fox Sports. “He’s got a start in pretty much every innings, he’s got himself to 30s, and that’s the most disappointing thing. That’s the heartbeat – getting in, getting set. The thing that will be really hurting him the most is he’s got himself in, but hasn’t been able to go on with it and get that big score that everyone is hoping for.”

Labuschagne is yet to register a half-century in four innings during the series, extending his run without a score of 50 or more to 14 consecutive innings. His wait for a Test century has also stretched to three years. The 31-year-old showed promise in the opening Test in Durban, scoring 37 in both innings. However, he was unable to turn either start into a substantial contribution and experienced similar difficulties in the second innings at St George’s Park.

Hussey, who made his Test debut at the age of 30 in 2005, understands the pressure that comes with a prolonged lean patch. He believes Labuschagne’s improved approach at the start of his innings is a positive development, even if the results have yet to follow. “I think the criticism’s been fair in the past that he (Labuschagne) hasn’t really looked good in his first 20, 30, 40 balls. He’s not been able to score, he’s just been sort of hanging in there and surviving. But now he’s actually looking quite good to start his innings. He’s getting going. He’s looking to score again. He’s putting the bad ball away, still defending well,” he added.

Labuschagne’s latest dismissal was particularly frustrating for Australia. He had survived an lbw appeal from Harmer after successfully using the Decision Review System (DRS), only to lose his wicket while trying to take on the spinner shortly afterwards.

Hussey also questioned suggestions that Australia should overhaul their Test squad following the disappointing performances. Australia did not include a player under the age of 30 in their first Test XI in Durban, marking a first in the country’s Test history. The selectors subsequently retained the same playing XI for the second match.

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With several senior players under pressure, calls have grown for Australia to introduce younger talent and begin planning for the future. However, Hussey believes selection decisions should be based on ability and readiness rather than age alone. “It’s all good and well saying get rid of the 30-plus guys, but who are you going to bring in?” he questioned. “I’ve always been a believer that you don’t just blood someone in Test match cricket – they need to have earned that spot.”

Michael Hussey concluded that players should earn their place through performances and demonstrate that they can contribute to winning matches at the highest level. “If you’re putting someone in there to see if he’s good enough, then I think that’s the wrong reason for picking someone to wear that baggy green cap. You need to be picking someone because you know he can help Australia win Test matches as soon as he gets there,” he said.