Should Australia move on from Marnus Labuschagne in Tests?
What's the story
Ricky Ponting has raised concerns over Marnus Labuschagne's position in the Australian Test team. The criticism comes after Labuschagne's disappointing performance in the second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay. He was dismissed for just four runs by Shoriful Islam on Saturday, following a first Test score of 1 and 31. Labuschagne has struggled for runs of late and Ponting feels he is a long way from rediscovering his form. Here's more.
Call for change
Ponting thinks selectors have been patient for too long
Ponting, speaking on Channel 7, said he appreciated the selectors' efforts to get Labuschagne back to his best. However, he thinks it has been going on for too long.
"I'm on record as saying I would have made that change at the start of this series because I think there was enough evidence for me to suggest that he was a long way from rediscovering his best," Ponting said.
Technical concerns
'There's some technical deficiency there'
Ponting admitted that Labuschagne was unlucky in his latest dismissal but said that such things happen when a player is struggling to find form.
He added, "The worry that I had with him, I think there's some technical deficiency there, but he's making the margin for error for the bowlers too great."
He also emphasized that if a player can't score off the back foot in Test cricket, batting becomes difficult.
Performance review
Labuschagne hasn't hit a hundred across 43 innings
Labuschagne's last Test century came in July 2023 versus England at Old Trafford. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, he has averaged just 25.43, as per Cricinfo.
Labuschagne has gone without a hundred since across his last 43 innings.
He has managed nine fifties in this run.
Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald admitted before this Test that Labuschagne "needs some big runs."
Do you know?
Labuschagne was ordinary in Ashes 2025-26
Labuschagne was ordinary versus England in Ashes 2025-26 series on home soil. Across 10 innings, he scored 259 runs at an average of 28.77. He hit two fifties. And now against Bangladesh, scores of 1, 31 and 4 at home will hurt the player.
Information
His overall numbers in Tests
Labuschagne has played 65 Tests (117 innings) for Australia, scoring 4,730 runs at 43.79. In addition to 11 tons, he owns 25 fifties for the Aussies.