Why Australia should drop Marnus Labuschagne from Tests
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Marnus Labuschagne fell for 4 in Mackay against Bangladesh in the second Test.
- Ricky Ponting said Australia should have dropped Labuschagne earlier, citing technical flaws exposed by his poor form.
- Labuschagne hasn't scored a Test century since July 2023 and averages just 25.43 across his last two seasons.
Is time up at No. 3? Why Australia must make the ruthless call to drop Marnus Labuschagne from Test cricket
Marnus Labuschagne's Test career is under the scanner after yet another failure with the bat, this time falling for just 4 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay.
Labuschagne was bowled by Shoriful Islam after the ball deflected off his thigh pad straight into leg stump. It was an unfortunate end that followed scores of 1 and 31 in the first Test.
That second-innings 31 had also represented a missed chance to build something bigger, ending when he played around a full delivery from Taijul Islam.
Speaking to Fox Cricket before play began in Mackay, Labuschagne admitted his earlier dismissal came from trying to force the pace unnecessarily.
"You know there's an opportunity to put a bit of pressure on the bowler and probably played a shot I didn't really need to at that time of the game," he added. "But it's a new opportunity this week and all those lessons learned last week hopefully we can put them into place."
MORE: Ponting urges Australia selectors to move on from Labuschagne in Test cricket
How long has Labuschagne been out of form?
The numbers back up the growing concern. Labuschagne last scored a Test century back in July 2023 at Old Trafford, and since the start of the 2023-24 season, he's averaged just 25.43.
The slip in form already saw him dropped for last year's series against the West Indies. Ahead of this Test, head coach Andrew McDonald conceded that Labuschagne "needs some big runs," while captain Pat Cummins struck a slightly more optimistic tone the day before.
Ricky Ponting didn't hold back in his assessment on Channel 7, arguing the selectors should have acted much sooner.
"I admire what they [the selectors] are trying to do with Marnus," Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7.
"I admire that they tried to get him and get him back to his best, but it's been way too long now. 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."
Marus Labuschagne scores in Tests since 2025
1st Innings2nd InningsOppositionGroundStart Date4-v BangladeshMackay22 Aug 2026131v BangladeshDarwin13 Aug 20264837v EnglandSydney4 Jan 202668v EnglandMelbourne26 Dec 20251913v EnglandAdelaide17 Dec 2025653v EnglandBrisbane4 Dec 2025951*v EnglandPerth21 Nov 20251722v South AfricaLord's11 Jun 2025426*v Sri LankaGalle6 Feb 2025200v Sri LankaGalle29 Jan 202526v IndiaSydney3 Jan 2025Although Ponting acknowledged the element of misfortune in Mackay, he pointed to a deeper technical issue underlying Labuschagne's extended slump.
"He was unlucky today. There's no doubt about that," he said.
"But that tends to happen to you as well when you're struggling and you're trying to find some form and some rhythm. 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.
"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. So I well and truly think it's time to have a look at somebody else."
Australia's selectors had already made one bold call for this Test, dropping Jake Weatherald after six matches following scores of 23 and 0 in Darwin, and bringing back Matt Renshaw, who managed an uncertain eight in his first Test innings since 2023.
Most had expected Weatherald to keep his spot for both matches against Bangladesh. Having already dropped and recalled Labuschagne once before, only to see him continue struggling, selectors now face an awkward situation heading forward, regardless of how Weatherald performs domestically for Queensland.
MORE: 'Pick No. 3 who can bat': Fans demand Labuschagne's axing after latest Test failure
Time for Australia to look beyond Labuschagne
Ponting's case rests on more than just recent scores, and that's what makes it difficult to brush aside. Two years without a century, combined with a specific technical weakness against back-of-a-length bowling, isn't the profile of a batter going through a short rough patch. It's a pattern that's now well past the point where patience alone fixes things.
The bigger issue, as Ponting rightly points out, is the sustained two-year drought without a hundred and an average hovering around 25. These are numbers that simply don't match Labuschagne's undoubted talent.
Selectors now face a tough call, balancing loyalty to a proven performer against the reality that Test cricket rarely affords indefinite chances. Given how long this slump has run, it's hard to argue against giving someone else an opportunity, even if that means moving on from a player capable of far better.
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