Marnus Labuschagne: Ricky Ponting says Australia batter’s place in Test team ‘almost untenable’ after lean run of form | Cricket News
Ricky Ponting said Marnus Labuschagne’s spot in the Australia Test team has become “untenable” as he insisted England have the talent to “serve it up” to the Baggy Greens during The Ashes next summer.
No 3 batter Labuschagne made scores of one, 31 and four during the recent 1-1 series draw at home to Bangladesh and has not registered a Test century in 43 innings.
The 32-year-old, hoping to be included in the squad for the three-Test series in South Africa from October 9, last hit a ton in the Manchester Ashes Test against England in 2023.
Ponting – speaking to Sky Sports News in his role as ambassador, investor and global advisor for Century Cricket, a coaching and talent ID centre launching in Manhattan, New York – had already noted Labuschagne’s troubles scoring off the back foot while analysing the Bangladesh series for Australian broadcaster Channel 7.
Ricky Ponting expects Australia to move Travis Head (pictured) back down the order at some stage
The 51-year-old said of Australia: “This has been a very dominant side for a long period of time but I think they have been carrying few guys through the last couple of years.
“I think it is inevitable that change is made going to South Africa – Labuschagne’s spot in the side is almost untenable, so they have to look at someone at No 3.
“Eventually they will also want Travis Head back at No 5 rather than opening, so that could present a chance for a youngster to come in and open the batting.
“It won’t be easy against that South Africa attack but we have got to the point where we have to try something. I don’t think we are going to get any worse or lose anything and may just unearth a really good talent as well.”
Australia face South Africa in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town in a three-Test series from October 9
‘England have talent to serve it up to Australia’
There has been change for England’s Test side this summer.
Captain Ben Stokes quit international cricket and Brendon McCullum was sacked as head coach after a run of seven defeats and just two wins in his final 10 matches in charge, including an error-strewn 4-1 Ashes drubbing over the winter.
Joe Root has replaced Stokes and began his second stint as skipper with a series win over Pakistan, while former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been named McCullum’s replacement and will take over properly ahead of the winter tour of South Africa.
Ponting, speaking before England completed victory over Pakistan at Lord’s, said: “I wasn’t surprised to see changes after The Ashes, although the way it came around was maybe a bit different than what I thought.
Joe Root has succeeded Ben Stokes as England Test captain and sealed a win over Pakistan in his comeback series in charge
“With Joe back as captain and a different personality altogether in Fleming, there is no doubt the talent is there to really serve it up to the Australians in the next Ashes.”
‘Hussey could slip back into England role’
Ex-Australia batter Mike Hussey has been linked with the position of England batting coach, having performed that role for IPL team Chennai Super Kings while Fleming was head coach, but Ponting feels other job opportunities could soon come his former team-mate’s way.
Hussey, who played 79 Tests, 185 one-day internationals and 38 T20 internationals for his country between 2005 and 2013, previously served as England’s batting consultant during their T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in 2022.
Mike Hussey has been linked with the role of England batting coach
Ponting said: “I saw Mike Hussey last week and said, ‘if you take that job I will never speak to you again!’ I think I have scared him off!
“I am not sure what he is going to do. I believe there might be a job in the pipeline for him around the Australian team, so I am not sure of his status.
“I also read a report he might be the next head coach of Chennai Super Kings, which could rule him out of everything anyway.
“At the end of the day, we are all coaches and in it to do whatever we can do. He has done [the England job] before and could easily slip back into that role again.”
Ponting eager to grow cricket in the USA
On his role with Century Cricket, Ponting – head coach of Punjab Kings in the IPL and Washington Freedom in the US-based Major League Cricket – added: “To be involved with a platform like this that I can use as a coaching and talent-identification tool and to get down to growing the game in the US is the major reason I am involved.
Ponting coaches Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket in the USA
“Cricket hasn’t grown as rapidly as I would have thought in the US, but with what we have been able to create, it will allow people of all ages to sample what the game is all about skill-wise.
“It’s a platform like I’ve never seen before. The technology is second to none and I can’t wait to watch.”
Training can be pre-set for particular deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios, with Century Cricket’s global CEO Chris Millard adding: “It really is a global platform that can change cricket for the better.
“People can face a Jasprit Bumrah or a Moeen Ali in whatever setting they want. We have the data to pull that off and if we are able to scale that globally we will be starting the future of cricket.”
