Ricky Ponting has warned that Marnus Labuschagne's place in the Australian Test side has become almost untenable, arguing that England possess the firepower needed 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 yet to notch a Test century in 43 innings.
The 32‑year‑old, who is hoping to make 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 based in Manhattan – reiterated his earlier observations from a Channel 7 analysis of the Bangladesh series.
He said Labuschagne has been “struggling to score off the back foot” and that Australia, a side that has dominated world cricket for many years, is now carrying a handful of under‑performing players. “The Australian team has been dominant for a long time, but we’ve been propping up a few guys for the last couple of years,” Ponting said.
“I think change is inevitable when we head to South Africa – Labuschagne’s spot in the side is almost untenable, so they’ll have to consider someone else at No 3. Eventually they’ll also want Travis Head back at No 5 rather than opening, which could open a door for a younger player to take the opener’s role.” He added that the upcoming South African tour will be a stern test for any new selections: “It won’t be easy against that South African attack, but we’ve reached a point where we have to try something different. I don’t think we’ll get any worse by making a change, and we might even uncover a very talented newcomer.” England, meanwhile, has undergone a period of 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 dismal 4‑1 Ashes loss in the winter. Joe Root has taken over the captaincy and opened his second spell as skipper with a series win over Pakistan, while former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has been appointed McCullum’s successor, set to lead the side into the upcoming South African tour. Ponting, commenting before England secured a win over Pakistan at Lord’s, 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’s 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 star Mike Hussey has been linked with the role of England’s batting coach, having served as a batting consultant for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL while Fleming was head coach. Ponting hinted that further coaching opportunities could arise for his former teammate. “Hussey played 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20Is for Australia between 2005 and 2013, and he was England’s batting consultant during their T20 World Cup triumph in 2022,” Ponting explained.
“I saw Mike last week and told him, ‘If you take that job I’ll never speak to you again!’ I think I scared him off. I’m not sure what his next move will be – there might be a role with the Australian team, or perhaps he’ll become head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, which would rule out anything else.” Beyond the immediate Test selection debate, Ponting also spoke about his involvement with Century Cricket. He is currently head coach of the Punjab Kings in the IPL and Washington Freedom in the US‑based Major League Cricket.
“Being part of a platform like Century Cricket allows me to use cutting‑edge coaching and talent‑identification tools to grow the game in the United States,” he said. “Cricket hasn’t expanded as quickly in the US as I’d hoped, but with what we’ve built, people of all ages can experience the skill set the sport demands.” He praised the technology behind the platform, describing it as unparalleled: “It’s a platform I’ve never seen before. The tech is second to none and I can’t wait to see it in action.” The system enables trainers to preset specific deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios. Century Cricket’s global CEO Chris Millard added: “It truly is a global platform that can change cricket for the better.
Players can face a virtual Jasprit Bumrah or Moeen Ali in any setting we choose. We have the data to make that happen, and if we can scale it worldwide, we’ll be shaping the future of cricket.” In summary, Ponting’s comments underscore a growing unease within Australian cricket regarding Labuschagne’s form and the broader need for fresh talent ahead of the South Africa series.
At the same time, the shifting landscape in England – with new leadership and a potent pace attack – suggests a competitive Ashes showdown on the horizon. Both nations appear poised to experiment with personnel and embrace innovative coaching technologies as they prepare for the next chapter of Test cricket.