Ricky Ponting has warned that Marnus Labuschagne's place in the Australian Test line‑up is rapidly becoming untenable, arguing that England possess the quality to "serve it up" to the Baggy Greens when The Ashes returns next summer. The No. 3 batsman struggled in the recent home series against Bangladesh, recording scores of 1, 31 and 4 in a 1‑1 draw and still lacking a Test century after 43 innings.
At 32, Labuschagne is hoping to secure a spot in the three‑match South Africa series slated to start on 9 October, yet his last hundred came back in the 2023 Ashes Test at Manchester. Ponting, speaking to Sky Sports News in his capacity as ambassador, investor and global adviser for Century Cricket – a new coaching and talent‑identification hub launching in Manhattan – had already highlighted Labuschagne’s difficulties against the back foot while breaking down the Bangladesh series for Channel 7.
The former Australian captain, now 51, said: "Australia have been a dominant side for a long time, but we’ve been carrying a few players for the last couple of years. It’s inevitable that changes will be made heading to South Africa – Labuschagne’s spot is almost untenable, so the selectors will need to consider alternatives at No 3. "Eventually they’ll also want Travis Head back at No 5 rather than opening, which could open the door for a youngster to take the opening slot.
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’ll get any worse by making a change, and we might even uncover a very promising talent in the process." England, meanwhile, have already undergone a period of upheaval. 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 dismal 4‑1 Ashes loss over 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 and will assume full control ahead of the winter tour of South Africa.
Speaking before England clinched 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 Fleming bringing a completely different personality, there’s no doubt the talent exists to really 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 the recent Pakistan series, though much of that credit comes from facing a relatively fragile Pakistani batting line‑up. Former Australian batsman Mike Hussey has been linked with the England batting coach role.
He previously served as a batting consultant for the IPL’s Chennai Super Kings while Stephen Fleming was head coach, and he also contributed to England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign 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. I’m not sure what he’ll do next. There might be a role for him with the Australian team, or he could become head coach of Chennai Super Kings – either way, he’ll stay busy." Regarding 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 gives me a powerful coaching and talent‑identification tool, and it helps grow the game in the United States.
Cricket hasn’t expanded as quickly here as I’d hoped, but with what we’ve built, people of all ages can experience the skill set the sport demands. The technology is unparalleled, and I’m eager to see it in action." Century Cricket allows training modules to be pre‑set for specific deliveries, bowlers and match scenarios.
Global CEO Chris Millard added: "It truly is a worldwide platform that can transform cricket for the better. Players can face a virtual Jasprit Bumrah or Moeen Ali in any setting they choose. We have the data to make that happen, and if we can scale it globally, we’ll be shaping the future of cricket." In summary, Ponting’s candid assessment of Labuschagne’s predicament underscores a broader conversation about Australian selection policy ahead of the South Africa tour.
While the Baggy Greens have enjoyed a long period of dominance, the need for fresh blood at the top of the order appears increasingly urgent. At the same time, England’s recent shake‑up – with a new captain, a new coach and a potent pace attack – signals that the upcoming Ashes will be a true test of adaptability for both sides. The emergence of innovative platforms like Century Cricket may also play a role in how teams develop talent and prepare for the evolving challenges of modern Test cricket.