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KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Ricky Ponting believes Australia should move on from Marnus Labuschagne in Test cricket after another disappointing performance against Bangladesh. - Labuschagne made just 4 in the second Test, following scores of 1 and 31 in the opening Test and has been on a slump since Ashes 2023. - Ponting pointed out Labuschagne's technical concerns as a batter and his inability to score effectively off the back foot. - The Australian great named youngsters that he believes the selectors should give opportunities to. Ricky Ponting calls for Australia to move on from Marnus Labuschagne in Test cricket Ricky Ponting has called on Australia to move on from Marnus Labuschagne after the struggling batter's latest failure in the second Test against Bangladesh, arguing that the selectors have given him enough time to rediscover his best form. Labuschagne made just four in Australia's second Test against Bangladesh at Mackay, following scores of one and 31 in the first Test. Two chop ons in an over! Shoriful Islam changes the game 😮 #AUSvBAN pic.twitter.com/B6cq5irrzh — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 22, 2026 His latest dismissal came when he shuffled across his stumps against Shoriful Islam and attempted to clip a delivery on the leg side. He missed the ball, which struck his thigh pad before rebounding onto the stumps. Labuschagne's place in Australia's Test side was already under pressure heading into the series and he continued to hold on to his spot due to his reputation as one of the most dependable members of the batting lineup. Before the end of the 2023 Ashes, Labuschagne had played 43 Tests, scoring 3,789 runs at an impressive average of 53.36, including 11 centuries. Since the 2023 Ashes, however, Labuschagne has scored just 937 runs in 22 Tests at an average of 26.02, without registering a century. | Period | Tests | Runs | Average | 100s | |---|---|---|---|---| | Through 2023 Ashes | 43 | 3,789 | 53.36 | 11 | | After 2023 Ashes | 22 | 937 | 26.02 | 0 | And patience may have run out with Labuschagne failing to match the standards he set early in his Test career. Ponting, speaking on Channel 7, said he would have made the change before the Bangladesh series. The legendary captain and now commentator believes the time has now come for Australia to look at somebody else before the upcoming Test series against South Africa in October. "I very much think it’s time to have a look at somebody else," Ponting said. "I admire that they tried to get him and get him back to his best but it’s been way too long now," he also added. Ponting acknowledged that there is no batter currently “belting the door down” with huge numbers in Sheffield Shield cricket, but argued that Australia cannot continue waiting indefinitely for Labuschagne to return to his best. Ricky Ponting explains why Labuschagne is struggling and reason to drop him The Australia great believes there is a technical issue in Labuschagne's current game, particularly when it comes to scoring from the back foot. "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," Ponting said. "With the length, he can’t score off the back foot. If you can’t score off the back foot in Test cricket then batting becomes a hard game," he added. Ponting believes this has allowed opposition bowlers to attack Labuschagne in a much wider range of areas without facing the same punishment they once did. Ricky Ponting talks about Marnus Labuschagne, why he'd make a change, and the specific changes he'd like to see. — 7Cricket (@7Cricket) August 22, 2026 Three minutes well worth your time... pic.twitter.com/I6XPOpc9Us He pointed to the difference between Labuschagne's current batting and the period when he was at his best, noting that the Australian was previously able to score from both the front and back foot. "I think the bowlers now know that they can run in a bowl anywhere from almost 10 metres to about four metres on off stump and out as wide as they want and he can’t hurt them," Ponting said. Ponting believes his current inability to do the same has fundamentally changed how bowlers approach him. Moreover, Labuschagne has not scored a century in Tests for over two years. Players who could replace Labuschagne and why Australia need to make the change Ponting specifically highlighted Campbell Kellaway and Ollie Peake, while also suggesting that Nathan McSweeney deserves another opportunity in the Australian Test team. "There has to be one, two, three, four guys out there that when you watch them bat, they just make batting look that little bit easier than the others," Ponting said. Ponting is not advocating dropping Labuschagne or selecting new players as a reactionary call. Instead, he is looking at the bigger picture with a number of senior players in the team who could retire in the coming years. "By trying these guys, I don’t see what we’re losing. That’s what I’m looking at. We’re not losing anything," he said. He believes Australia should begin preparing for that transition rather than waiting until several senior players depart at once. Ponting, Australian selectors and the fans have been patient with Labuschagne for far too long and despite the potential, a tough call has to be made, which means beginning the search for a new No. 3 batter. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages