Ricky Ponting has openly stated that Marnus Labuschagne's place in the Australian Test line‑up is becoming "almost untenable" and warned that England possess the quality to "serve it up" to the Baggy Greens when The Ashes returns next summer. The 32‑year‑old No 3 batsman has struggled for form, registering scores of 1, 31 and 4 in the recent home series against Bangladesh that ended in a 1‑1 dead‑heat. In 43 Test innings he has yet to compile a century, a drought that has raised serious questions about his future at the top of the order. Labuschagne’s last hundred came in the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester, and he is now hoping to secure a spot in the three‑match series in South Africa slated to begin on 9 October.
Ponting, who is speaking in his capacity as ambassador, investor and global advisor for Century Cricket – a new coaching and talent‑identification hub launching in Manhattan – had already highlighted Labuschagne’s difficulty in scoring off the back foot while dissecting the Bangladesh series for Australian broadcaster Channel 7. The former Australian captain, now 51, said: "Australia has been a dominant side for a long time, but we have been carrying a few players for the last couple of years.
It is inevitable that changes will be made for the South Africa tour – Labuschagne's place in the side is almost untenable, so the selectors will have to look at alternatives for the No 3 slot." 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 must try something new.
I don’t think we will get any worse by making a change, and we might even uncover a very promising talent," Ponting said. Meanwhile, England’s Test set‑up has undergone its own upheaval 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, including a 4‑1 Ashes loss 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 and will assume full duties ahead of the winter tour of South Africa. Speaking before England clinched a victory over Pakistan at Lord’s, Ponting remarked: "I wasn’t surprised to see changes after The Ashes, although the way they unfolded was a little different than I expected. With Joe back as captain and a completely new personality in Fleming, there is no doubt the talent exists to truly challenge the Australians in the next Ashes." England’s four‑pronged seam attack – Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson – has impressed in recent weeks, 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’s 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 will do next. There might be a role with the Australian team in the pipeline, and there are rumours he could become head coach of Chennai Super Kings, which would rule out other options.
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." On his involvement with Century Cricket, Ponting – who also coaches the IPL’s Punjab Kings and the US‑based Major League Cricket side Washington Freedom – explained: "Being part of a platform like this, which I can use as a coaching and talent‑identification tool, and helping to 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 expected, but with what we’ve built, people of all ages can experience the skill set the sport demands. It’s a platform unlike anything I’ve seen before.
The technology is second‑to‑none and I can’t wait to see it in action." Century Cricket’s technology allows training sessions to be pre‑set for specific deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios. Global CEO Chris Millard added: "It truly is a global 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 worldwide we will be shaping the future of cricket." In summary, Ponting’s blunt assessment of Labuschagne’s position underscores the pressure on Australian selectors to refresh a side that has enjoyed a long period of dominance but now faces a talent gap at No 3.
Simultaneously, England’s recent restructuring suggests they will be eager to exploit any perceived weakness in the Australian batting order when The Ashes returns. Both nations are also looking beyond the traditional cricketing heartlands, with initiatives like Century Cricket aiming to broaden the sport’s reach and develop the next generation of talent worldwide.