Marnus Labuschagne’s Test career is almost certainly over after the under-fire No.3 failed in his bid to put down a score that would save his skin and help Australia pull off a Day 5 win over South Africa in Cape Town.

The Aussies’ bid to chase 288 for victory was already off to a terrible start in the first over when opener Matt Renshaw was out for a golden duck to Kagiso Rabada.

Then it turned into a nightmare when Labuschagne (4) proved unable to defy his recent form, trapped lbw after not offering a shot on the last ball of the over.

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Australia collapsed to 3-22 in the seventh over when Travis Head was out for 14 — Rabada’s third wicket bringing his Test tally to 350.

Labuschagne sent his dismissal upstairs but had to go when it was upheld on umpire’s call.

“There’s a good leave and a bad leave. That was a bad leave from Marnus,” Graeme Smith said in commentary.

“A man that’s found himself under the most pressure from an Australian selection perspective is on his way for another low score.

“Have to wonder if that’s the last time you’ll see Marnus in an Australian shirt.”

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Labuschagne cut a forlorn figure on a slow walk off the field as cameras panned to show Australian coach Andrew McDonald.

Once the world’s top-ranked batsman with an average in the 60s, Labuschagne has averaged half that since he scored his last Test ton in 2023.

He held his spot for this week’s series decider despite captain Pat Cummins openly declaring that ‘30s don’t win matches’.

Labuschagne had scored 37 in both innings in the first Test before 14 and 39 in the second.

His papers were all but stamped when he was out for a five-ball duck in the first innings of the third Test.

Labuschagne’s continued selection came after the Aussies had already dropped opener Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster and lost Steve Smith to a neck injury.

Renshaw returned to the top of the order in place of Maddinson and scored an impressive 74 in the first innings, but his second-innings duck on Saturday was a disappointing finish.

Head’s dismissal brought Josh Inglis to the crease alongside Cameron Green.

Green scored 65 in place of Smith in the first innings while Inglis marked his recall with 102, all but one run coming in a 185-run partnership with Alex Carey.