Ricky Ponting has openly warned that Marnus Labuschagne's place in the Australian Test side is rapidly becoming untenable, suggesting that England possess the depth of talent required to challenge the Baggy Greens in the upcoming Ashes series next summer. The 32‑year‑old No. 3 batsman has struggled to make an impact recently, registering scores of just one, 31 and four in the home series against Bangladesh that ended in a 1‑1 draw.
In fact, Labuschagne has not reached a Test hundred in 43 innings, his last ton dating back to the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester. With the three‑match South Africa tour set to begin on 9 October, Labuschagne is hoping to retain his spot, but 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 – believes a change is inevitable.
He had already highlighted Labuschagne's difficulties against the back‑foot bowling of Bangladesh while analysing the series for Channel 7. "Australia have been a dominant side for a long time, but they've been carrying a few players for too many years," the 51‑year‑old former captain said. "Going into South Africa, Labuschagne's position is almost untenable, so the selectors will have to consider alternatives at No 3." Ponting went on to suggest that the team might also look to move Travis Head back to the No 5 slot rather than keeping him as an opener, which could open a door for a younger player to take on opening duties. "It won't be easy against the South African attack, but we have reached a point where we need to try something new.
We aren't going to get any worse by making a change, and we might even uncover a real talent," he added. England, meanwhile, have undergone a significant reshuffle this summer.
Captain Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket, and head coach Brendon McCullum was dismissed after a string of seven losses in his final ten matches, including a disappointing 4‑1 Ashes defeat in the winter. Joe Root has taken over the captaincy and led the side to a series win over Pakistan, while former New Zealand skipper 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 wrapped up 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 give the Australians a real fight 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.
Their ability to swing and seam the ball at pace could pose a serious challenge for any Australian top order, especially if Labuschagne continues to falter. Former Australian batsman Mike Hussey has been linked with the role of England batting coach.
He previously served as a batting consultant for the IPL's Chennai Super Kings while Stephen Fleming was head coach, and he was part of England's coaching staff during their T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in 2022. Ponting joked about Hussey's potential appointment, saying, "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." He added, "I'm not sure what he'll decide. There might be a role for him with the Australian team, or perhaps he'll become the head coach of Chennai Super Kings – either way, he's a valuable asset in the coaching world." Regarding his own involvement with Century Cricket, Ponting – who also coaches the IPL's Punjab Kings and the US‑based Major League Cricket side Washington Freedom – explained that the platform offers a unique blend of coaching tools and talent‑identification technology aimed at growing the sport in the United States. "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 set required for the game," he said.
He praised the technology, describing it as unprecedented, and expressed excitement about its potential impact. "It's a platform like I've never seen before. The technology is second to none and I can't wait to see it in action," Ponting enthused.
Century Cricket allows coaches to preset training scenarios for specific deliveries, bowlers and match situations. Global CEO Chris Millard echoed Ponting's enthusiasm, stating, "It truly is a global platform that can transform cricket for the better. Players can face a virtual 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."