Marnus Labuschagne fails again for Australia in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mackay, making only four runs in the first innings. Shoriful Islam dismisses him after the ball appears to brush his pad before hitting the stumps. The low score adds to an extended run of poor form that prompts former captain Ricky Ponting and other commentators to question whether Labuschagne should continue in the side.
Both outlets cite Labuschagne’s recent batting record as the key context for Ponting’s remarks. He is averaging about 24.69 since his last Test century, which came in July 2023, and he has not reached a half-century in his last 10 Test innings. His most recent century remains the Ashes in 2023. Across the period referenced, he has scored 170 runs in those 10 innings, with a highest score of 48.
While Times of India frames Ponting’s call as “time to have a look at somebody else,” Guyana Chronicle highlights that Ponting’s comments coincide with wider calls from former players to consider dropping Labuschagne or reassessing his place in the team. Neither source indicates a final selection decision, focusing instead on the criticism sparked by the latest dismissal.
