Ricky Ponting has warned that Marnus Labuschagne’s place in the Australian Test side has become almost untenable, arguing that England possess the quality to "serve it up" to the Baggy Greens when the Ashes return 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 draw, and he has not notched a Test century in 43 innings.
Labuschagne’s last hundred came in the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester, and he is hoping to be selected for the three‑match series in South Africa starting 9 October. 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 – Ponting reiterated concerns he had already voiced while analysing the Bangladesh series for Channel 7.
The former Australian captain, now 51, said, "Australia have been a dominant side for a long time, but they have been carrying a few players for the past couple of years. 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 at alternatives for the No 3 position." He added that the team might also consider moving 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 that South African attack, but we have reached a point where we have to try something new. I don’t think we will get any worse by making a change, and we might even discover a very talented newcomer," Ponting said.
England, meanwhile, have undergone a period of upheaval of their own. Captain Ben Stokes stepped away from international cricket, and head coach Brendon McCullum was dismissed after a string 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, set to assume full duties ahead of the South African tour. Ponting, commenting before England’s victory over Pakistan at Lord’s, noted, "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 a completely different personality in Fleming, there is no doubt the talent is there to really serve it up to 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. The performance has added to speculation about coaching moves on the other side of the world.
Former Australian batsman Mike Hussey has been linked with the England batting coach role after serving as a consultant for the Chennai Super Kings during Stephen Fleming’s tenure as head coach. Ponting joked that he had warned Hussey, saying, "If you take that job I will never speak to you again!" He added that Hussey might instead be headed for a position with the Australian team or even a head‑coach role with the Super Kings, which would preclude any return to England. Beyond the immediate team‑selection chatter, Ponting highlighted his involvement with Century Cricket, a platform he believes could revolutionise talent development, especially in the United States. As head coach of the Punjab Kings in the IPL and Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, he said, "Being part of a platform that serves as both a coaching and talent‑identification tool is a major reason for my involvement.
Cricket hasn’t grown as quickly in the US as I expected, but with what we have built, people of all ages can experience the skill set the game requires." He praised the technology behind Century Cricket, describing it as unparalleled. The system allows trainers to preset specific deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios, giving players the chance to face virtual versions of stars like Jasprit Bumrah or Moeen Ali.
Global CEO Chris Millard echoed Pontian’s enthusiasm, stating, "It really is a global platform that can change cricket for the better. People can face a Bumrah or a Moeen in whatever setting they want.
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 comments underscore a looming selection crossroads for Australia, with Labuschagne’s future at No 3 looking increasingly doubtful. At the same time, England’s recent restructuring suggests they are preparing to challenge the Baggy Greens with fresh leadership and a potent bowling attack.
Both nations appear poised for significant change ahead of the forthcoming Ashes and the South African series, while the broader cricketing landscape continues to evolve through innovative coaching platforms and cross‑continental talent exchanges.