“We’re not shying away from the fact that we’d like some more runs from Marn. That’s clear,” Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said on Monday. “But we’re also confident that he can still make a positive contribution to that squad.

“I think Marn will continue to prepare and refine how he will prepare for this series. There’s potentially a simplification or an ability to focus purely on red-ball cricket for him in the fact that he won’t be in the one-day series leading up to it. So that may be a benefit. I’m not sure around that. He’ll prepare incredibly well, and specifically for this tour. In that squad of 16, I’m confident that he can still make a positive contribution.”

Australia’s selectors have added Connolly as the other batter to the squad that faced Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay. Connolly does not have a first-class century and has only batted once at No. 3 and once at No. 4 in 21 first-class innings to date. He was also dropped by Western Australia for the final Sheffield Shield match last summer when he was available as a specialist bat only. But he bounced back with a stunning ODI century against Bangladesh as opener in June.

“He’s a good player, and one I think that’s going to continue to develop across formats,” Bailey said. “Every time that we’ve had him on tour, he’s a good learner. He’s keen to expand his game.”

Bailey believes he could bat in the top three in Test cricket.

“I think he will be able to,” he said. “Whether that’s now, whether that’s in the future. He’s still so young in his career, but I think his ability to bat in a range of positions will continue to grow as he gets more and more experience.”

Josh Inglis is the other spare batter/wicketkeeper in the squad and Bailey was confident he too could bat in the top three if required. Matt Renshaw has been retained as opener after replacing Jake Weatherald against Bangladesh with Weatherald not included in the larger squad for South Africa.

Renshaw and Travis Head look set to remain as openers with no other specialist opener selected. There has been wider debate as to whether Head should be moved back to No. 5 and Steven Smith moved up to No. 3 and Bailey did not rule out either possibility, although he was conscious of the flow-on effect of moving either player.

“I guess they’re all questions that’ll be on the table, and that’s probably the the consideration, isn’t it?” Bailey said. “Any time you do make a move, it’s what are you taking away from where they are performing, and that’s always going to be a question, particularly around Travis, I think, the success that he had at five, but also the success he has had at the top, and what he and what he provides to the structure of the team there.

“So I think there are always going to be considerations. Steve has batted at three for a large part of his career. Hasn’t done it for a little while, and has had success there. So absolutely, that’ll be a conversation at some point.”

Kuhnemann is a surprise inclusion as an additional spinner. He was the second spinner in the World Test Championship final squad against South Africa and for the tour of West Indies that followed in 2025 but was not called up to the Ashes squad in December when Nathan Lyon was omitted, with Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy called in ahead of him although he did not end up playing.

It is unlikely Australia will pick two spinners in an XI in South Africa and there is a possibility they may not even pick one if conditions look extremely favourable to seam bowlers in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town. Kuhnemann’s inclusion will also help Australia’s batters prepare for South Africa’s spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Neser, meanwhile, has recovered from a calf strain he suffered during a training camp in early August and has been added as the fifth fast bowler alongside Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

Cameron Green and Beau Webster are the two allrounders in the squad as they were against Bangladesh.

Australia Test squad for tour of South Africa

Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster