SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Top-order batsman ⁠Marnus Labuschagne was named in the Australia squad for next ⁠month's three-test tour of South Africa on Monday despite a run ‌of poor recent form that has called into question his international future.

The right-hander, who was born in South Africa, was dropped from the one-day squad for a tour of southern Africa ​last week but retained in the 16-strong party ⁠which will play tests in ⁠Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town in October.

All-rounder Cooper Connolly, paceman Michael Neser and ⁠left-arm ‌spinner Matthew Kuhnemann are the additions to the squad that lost a first test on home soil to Bangladesh last month ⁠before rallying to level the series.

Matthew Renshaw, who was ​brought in to replace ‌Jake Weatherald as opening partner for Travis Head for the second ⁠test in that ​series, also retains his place in the squad.

Labuschagne's 36 runs over three innings in the Bangladesh series had many questioning the seven-year grip he has held on ⁠the number three spot in the batting ​order, although he does have a decent record in South Africa.

"This is a reasonably condensed three-game series, on the back of six one-day internationals, with only short ⁠breaks between each game," chief selector George Bailey said in a news release.

"The squad provides balance and options for each test and the variety of conditions we may face."

The test series, which starts at Durban's Kingsmead Stadium ​on October 9, is the first between the countries ⁠in South Africa since the infamous ball-tampering affair of 2018.

Squad: Pat Cummins (captain), 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

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Michael Perry)