Former skipper says it’s time to try a new batsman in place of Labuschagne

During a live interview on the Seven channel, ex‑captain Ricky Ponting urged Australian cricket officials to drop Marnus Labuschagne after the latter’s fourth‑run debut in the second Test. Australia, having dismissed Bangladesh for 64, stumbled to 165/8, losing eight wickets for a modest total. Labuschagne’s recent form has been worrying – ten consecutive Tests without a fifty and no hundred since the Ashes 2023. Ponting praised the selection panel’s attempts to revive Labuschagne’s innings but argued that “the window for patience has closed.” He noted that the batsman’s inability to score on the back foot has handed bowlers too much room, and that the side must experiment with a fresh face to revive its batting fortunes. The former captain recalled his own call for youth after the Darwin defeat, emphasizing that the situation now demands decisive changes.