Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Ponting Urges Australia to Move Beyond Struggling Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne is an Australian cricket batter who has not scored many runs recently.
Ricky Ponting thinks Australia should try another player instead of waiting longer.
Labuschagne scored only 1, 31 and 4 in the reported matches against Bangladesh.
Pat Cummins also suggested that Labuschagne may soon run out of chances.
Labuschagne was once a very successful Test batter.
His recent average is about half of his career average.
Ponting believes Labuschagne has a technical problem that bowlers can exploit.
Labuschagne’s last strong performance came in December 2024.
The report contains conflicting descriptions of the second Test’s result.
Ricky Ponting said Australia should consider replacing Marnus Labuschagne after his poor Bangladesh series.
Labuschagne scored 1, 31 and 4 in the reported Test innings.
Pat Cummins indicated Labuschagne’s place could be at risk if he does not score soon.
Labuschagne has made 392 runs at nearly 22 in his last 11 Tests.
Ponting cited technical concerns, including Labuschagne’s difficulty scoring off the back foot.
- Who
- Ricky Ponting criticized Marnus Labuschagne’s recent batting, while Pat Cummins suggested his place may be under pressure.
- What
- Ponting called for Australia to consider moving beyond Labuschagne after his poor form.
- When
- The comments came during the recent two-Test series against Bangladesh; Labuschagne’s last cited strong performance was in December 2024.
- Where
- The issue arose during Australia’s two-Test series against Bangladesh.
- Why
- Labuschagne has scored poorly over his last 11 Tests, and Ponting identified technical concerns in his batting.
Change the batter
Give Labuschagne more chances
Selection decision
Change the batter
Ricky Ponting believes Australia should move beyond Labuschagne and select someone else because there is enough evidence that he is far from his best.
Give Labuschagne more chances
The report does not provide a detailed defense of retaining Labuschagne, but his career record includes 4,730 Test runs and an average near 44.
Interpretation of his struggles
Change the batter
Ponting believes a technical deficiency, particularly an inability to score off the back foot, is giving bowlers too large a margin for error.
Give Labuschagne more chances
Labuschagne was described as unlucky in the cited dismissal, although Ponting said such setbacks can occur when a batter is struggling for form and rhythm.
- Player
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Career record
- 4,730 runs in 65 Tests at an average of nearly 44, including 11 hundreds and 25 fifties.
- Recent record
- 392 runs at an average of nearly 22 across his last 11 Tests and 20 innings.
- Bangladesh series scores
- Labuschagne scored 1 and 31 in the first Test and 4 in Australia’s only reported innings of the second Test.
- Ponting’s view
- He said Australia should look at another player and cited Labuschagne’s difficulty scoring off the back foot.
- Cummins’ view
- The Australia captain hinted that Labuschagne’s opportunities may be running out if he does not begin scoring.
- Last cited strong performance
- Labuschagne scored 72 and 70 during the Boxing Day Test against India in December 2024.