Ricky Ponting has openly warned that Marnus Labuschagne’s place in the Australian Test side is becoming virtually untenable, especially as the Ashes loom next summer and England appear ready to exploit any weakness. The former captain, now serving as an ambassador, investor and global adviser for the new Manhattan‑based coaching and talent‑identification venture Century Cricket, told Sky Sports News that the Australian selectors will need to make a decisive change before the three‑match series in South Africa that begins on 9 October.
Labuschagne, who occupies the No 3 slot in the batting order, has struggled to find form in recent weeks. In the home series against Bangladesh, which ended in a 1‑1 draw, he managed scores of just one, 31 and four, and has not recorded a Test century in 43 innings. The 32‑year‑old’s last hundred came back in the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester, and his inability to convert starts into big scores has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Ponting, who is also head coach of the IPL’s Punjab Kings and the Washington Freedom in the United States’ Major League Cricket, highlighted the broader context of Australia’s batting line‑up. "Australia has been a dominant force for a long time, but we have been carrying a few under‑performing players for the past couple of years," he said.
"It is inevitable that changes will be made ahead of the South Africa tour. Labuschagne’s spot is almost untenable, so the selectors will have to look elsewhere for a No 3.
He added that the reshuffle could also open a door for a younger player to open the innings, especially if Travis Head returns to the No 5 position rather than opening. "It won’t be easy against the South African attack, but we have reached a point where we must try something new. We might even uncover a very promising talent in the process," Ponting asserted.
The commentary comes at a time when England’s Test side is also undergoing significant transformation. After a disappointing Ashes campaign, captain Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket, and head coach Brendon McCullum was dismissed following a run of seven defeats in his final ten matches, including a 4‑1 Ashes loss.
Joe Root has now taken over the captaincy and led England to a series win over Pakistan, while former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has been appointed as McCullum’s successor, set to assume full duties before the winter tour of South Africa. Speaking before England’s victory over Pakistan at Lord's, Ponting remarked, "I wasn’t surprised to see changes after the Ashes, although the way it unfolded was a bit different than I expected.
With Joe back as captain and Fleming bringing a new personality, there is no doubt the talent exists to give Australia a real challenge in the next Ashes." He praised England’s four‑pronged seam attack—Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson—for its recent performances, noting that while the English bowlers have looked impressive, they have faced a relatively fragile Pakistani batting line‑up. The former Australian great also touched on speculation surrounding ex‑Australia batsman Mike Hussey, who has been linked with the England batting coach role. Hussey, who served as a batting consultant for the Chennai Super Kings during Stephen Fleming’s tenure and helped England’s T20 side during their 2022 World Cup triumph in Australia, may soon find himself back in a coaching capacity. Ponting joked, "I saw Mike last week and told him, ‘If you take that job I will never speak to you again!’ I think I scared him off.
There might be a role for him with the Australian team, or perhaps he will become the head coach of Chennai Super Kings, which would close the door on everything else." Beyond the immediate Test selection drama, Pontian emphasized his commitment to growing cricket globally through Century Cricket. He explained that the platform offers cutting‑edge technology for coaching and talent identification, allowing players of all ages in the United States to experience the sport in a highly interactive way. "Cricket hasn’t grown as quickly in the US as I had hoped, but with what we’ve built, people can now sample the skill set required for the game. It’s a platform unlike anything I’ve seen before—technology that is second to none, and I can’t wait to see it in action," he said.
Century Cricket’s global CEO Chris Millard echoed this sentiment, describing the system as a transformative tool for the sport. "It truly is a global platform that can change cricket for the better. Players can face a virtual Jasprit Bumrah or a Moeen Ali in any scenario we set up.
We have the data to make it happen, and if we can scale it worldwide, we will be shaping the future of cricket," Millard added. In summary, Ponting’s candid assessment suggests that Labuschagne’s tenure at No 3 is nearing its end unless he can rediscover his scoring touch quickly.
The upcoming South Africa series will likely serve as a litmus test for the Australian selectors, who may need to inject fresh talent into the top order. At the same time, England’s revamped leadership and coaching staff indicate that the rivalry between the two nations will remain fierce and unpredictable, promising an exciting Ashes contest in the near future.