Batter Marnus Labuschagne is still a key part of Australia's future in test cricket despite failing to impress in their five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, coach Andrew McDonald said.

Pakistan finished rock bottom of the 2025 WTC standings and but will be looking at their home fixtures against South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand and fancying their chances. Back-to-back tours of West Indies and England in mid-2026 won't be an easy assignment.

Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan declared Australia “look beatable” after its “batting frailties” were exposed in the five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship final.

A riveting World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa went a long way to boost the sagging credentials of the five-day game, but the format of the competition is in need of a revamp,

OPINION Australian selectors could be forced to make a number of changes ahead of the Ashes at the end of the year with question marks hovering over Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon after the World Test Championship final.

Australia's T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Steve Smith will miss Australia’s first test against the West Indies in Barbados later this month and could sit out the entire three-test series with a finger injury, captain Pat Cummins said.Smith, one of the mainstays of the Australian team,