Ricky Ponting has openly warned that Marnus Labuschagne's place in the Australian Test side is becoming "almost untenable," suggesting that England possess enough quality to "serve it up" to the Baggy Greens when the Ashes returns next summer. The former captain highlighted Labuschagne's recent struggles, noting that the No 3 batsman managed scores of just one, 31 and four in the home series against Bangladesh that ended in a 1‑1 draw, and that he has not notched a Test century in 43 innings. The 32‑year‑old, who is hoping to earn a spot in the squad for the three‑Test tour of South Africa beginning on 9 October, last recorded a hundred in the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester. Ponting, speaking to Sky Sports News in his capacity as ambassador, investor and global advisor for Century Cricket – a new coaching and talent‑identification hub launching in Manhattan – reiterated his earlier observations from a Channel 7 analysis of the Bangladesh series, where he pointed out Labuschagne's difficulty in scoring off the back foot.
"Australia have been a dominant side for a long time, but they've been carrying a few players for the past couple of years," the 51‑year‑old said. "I think a change is inevitable heading into South Africa – Labuschagne's spot is almost untenable, so the selectors will have to look at alternatives at No 3." He added that the team may also want to move Travis Head back to the No 5 position rather than keeping him as an opener, which could open the door for a younger player to take on opening duties. "It won't be easy against that South African attack, but we have reached a point where we have to try something new.
We might not lose anything, and we could even uncover a very promising talent," Ponting explained. England, meanwhile, have undergone their own period of transition this summer.
Captain Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket, and head coach Brendon McCullum was dismissed after a run of seven defeats in his final ten matches, which included a 4‑1 Ashes drubbing in the winter. Joe Root has taken over the captaincy and began his second spell as skipper with a series win over Pakistan, while former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed as McCullum's successor, set to assume full responsibilities ahead of the winter tour of South Africa. Speaking before England secured a victory over Pakistan at Lord's, Ponting said, "I wasn't surprised to see changes after the Ashes, although the way it unfolded was a bit different from what I expected. With Joe back as captain and a completely different personality in Fleming, there is no doubt the talent exists to really give the Australians a run for their money in the next Ashes." England's four‑pronged seam attack – Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson – has impressed against Pakistan, albeit against a relatively fragile Pakistani batting line‑up.
Former Australian batsman Mike Hussey has been linked with the England batting coach role after serving as a consultant for the IPL side Chennai Super Kings while Fleming was head coach. Ponting hinted that other opportunities could soon arise for his former teammate. Hussey, who played 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20Is for Australia between 2005 and 2013, previously acted as England's batting consultant during their T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in 2022.
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! I'm not sure what he'll do next.
There might be a role with the Australian team in the pipeline, or perhaps he'll become the head coach of Chennai Super Kings – which would rule out everything else. At the end of the day, we're all coaches trying to do what we can.
He has done the England job before and could easily slip back into it." Regarding his involvement with Century Cricket, Ponting – who also serves as head coach of the IPL franchise Punjab Kings and the US‑based Major League Cricket side Washington Freedom – said, "Being part of a platform like this that I can use as a coaching and talent‑identification tool, and that helps grow the game in the United States, is the main reason I'm involved. Cricket hasn't grown as quickly in the US as I had hoped, but with what we've built, people of all ages can experience the skill side of the sport. It's a platform unlike anything I've ever seen; the technology is second to none and I can't wait to see it in action." Century Cricket allows training sessions to be pre‑set for specific deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios. Global CEO Chris Millard added, "It truly is a worldwide platform that can change cricket for the better.
Players can face a Jasprit Bumrah or a Moeen Ali in any setting they choose. We have the data to make that happen, and if we can scale it globally, we will be shaping the future of cricket." In summary, Ponting's candid assessment underscores the pressure on Labuschagne to rediscover form before the South Africa tour, while also highlighting the broader shifts occurring in both Australian and English cricket.
The upcoming Ashes will test England's revamped squad, and the innovative tools offered by Century Cricket may play a role in developing the next generation of talent on both sides of the world.