Ponting demands Labuschagne axe after second Test flop in Mackay
Synopsis
Ricky Ponting has run out of patience. After Labuschagne's fourth-ball dismissal in Mackay — his 10th successive innings without a fifty — Australia's most decorated living captain has gone public with a demand for change, raising the stakes for selectors already under fire since the Darwin humiliation.
Key Takeaways
Ricky Ponting publicly called for Marnus Labuschagne to be dropped after the second Test vs Bangladesh in Mackay on 22 August .
Labuschagne scored just 4 runs , dismissed by Shoriful Islam — his 10th consecutive innings without a fifty and no century since Ashes 2023 .
Mitchell Starc took a six-wicket haul to bowl Bangladesh out for 64 ; Shoriful Islam replied with his own six-fer .
Australia closed the day at 165 for 8 , leading by 101 runs , with Cameron Green unbeaten on 51 .
Australia face a three-match Test series in South Africa later this year, adding urgency to the top-order selection debate.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has called for the immediate removal of Marnus Labuschagne from the Test XI after another underwhelming performance in the second Test against Bangladesh at Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay on Saturday, 22 August. Labuschagne's dismissal for just four runs — bowled by Shoriful Islam off a ball that clipped his pad onto the stumps — extended a prolonged lean patch that has now stretched to 10 innings without a fifty and no century since the Ashes 2023.
Ponting's Verdict
'I admire what they're trying to do to get him back to his best,' Ponting said on Channel 7. 'But it's been way too long now. I would have made the change at the start of this series.'
Ponting was unsparing in his technical diagnosis: 'There's some technical deficiency there, but he's making the margin for error for the bowlers too great. He can't score off the back foot, and if you can't score off the back foot in Test cricket, batting becomes a hard game. Bowlers now know they can bowl anywhere from 10 metres to four metres on off stump and as wide as they want, and he can't hurt them. It's well and truly time to have a look at somebody else.'
A Pattern of Decline
The scrutiny over Australia's top order has been building since their shock defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test in Darwin. In the aftermath, selectors recalled Matt Renshaw — ending a three-year absence — in place of struggling opener Jake Weatherland, but Renshaw contributed only eight runs. Travis Head, who was a revelation at the top of the order against England, managed just 22 and has now gone four innings without a fifty.
Ponting had previously flagged the need for a top-order reset after the Darwin loss, saying the evidence was already sufficient to begin a generational shift. 'I think that that has to happen,' he told Channel 7 earlier in the series.
Where Australia Stand
Despite the top-order fragility, Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul dismissed Bangladesh for just 64, giving Australia a 101-run lead. At stumps on the day, Australia were 165 for 8, with Cameron Green unbeaten on 51 and Nathan Lyon on 10. Shoriful Islam matched Starc with his own six-wicket haul, ensuring Australia's lower order remained under pressure.
What's Next for Australia's Batting
With two wickets still in hand and a lead of 101 runs, Australia remain favourites to win the Mackay Test. However, the structural questions around the top order carry weight beyond this series — Australia are scheduled to tour South Africa for a three-match Test series later this year, where batting frailties against quality pace bowling will face a far sterner examination. The selectors' next move on Labuschagne is expected to draw significant attention ahead of that tour.
Point of View
And whether the South Africa tour will force their hand in a far less forgiving environment than Mackay.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ricky Ponting calling for Marnus Labuschagne to be dropped?
Ponting believes Labuschagne's prolonged poor form — 10 innings without a fifty and no century since Ashes 2023 — combined with a technical inability to score off the back foot makes him too easy to bowl at in Test cricket. He stated it is 'well and truly time to have a look at somebody else.'
How did Labuschagne get out in the Mackay Test?
Labuschagne was dismissed for four runs by Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam, with the ball clipping his pad and hitting the stumps. The dismissal continued his lean run at the highest level.
What is Australia's position in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay?
Australia ended the day at 165 for 8, holding a 101-run lead after Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul bowled Bangladesh out for 64. Cameron Green was unbeaten on 51 with Nathan Lyon on 10.
Who is Shoriful Islam and how did he perform?
Shoriful Islam is a Bangladesh pace bowler who matched Mitchell Starc's six-wicket haul in the same match, putting Australia's lower order under sustained pressure despite Bangladesh being bowled out cheaply.
What are the broader implications for Australia's Test selection?
Australia are scheduled to tour South Africa for a three-match Test series later this year, where top-order batting against quality pace will be tested far more severely. The debate over Labuschagne's place — and the top order more broadly — is expected to intensify before that tour.
