'They just keep picking him' - Ricky Ponting questions Australia's decision to retain Marnus Labuschagne

Cricket Australia named a 16-member squad on September 7 for the Test tour of South Africa, retaining Marnus Labuschagne at number three despite a difficult run of form. The squad also included Cooper Connolly, Michael Neser and Matthew Kuhnemann. Labuschagne's selection comes after he scored just 1, 31 and 4 across his three innings against Bangladesh, and he had been left out of six ODIs leading up to the Test series.

Labuschagne has averaged 24.69 across his last 43 Test innings, a run stretching back to July 2023 that has not included a single century. Selection chair George Bailey acknowledged the concern, stating that the selectors would like more runs from the 32-year-old batter. Despite these struggles, Australia opted to retain him for the three-Test tour, which will be played in Durban from October 9 to 13, in Gqeberha from October 18 to 22, and in Cape Town from October 27 to 31.

"Am I surprised? It’s hard to be surprised because they just keep picking him. In the back of my own mind I was like, ‘has the time come when they’re going to make that call yet, or is it not?’ They’ve decided not to, and the only thing I can think is they’re going to shuffle the batting order around to accommodate somehow because I can’t see how they can keep going the same direction they’ve gone,” said Ponting as quoted by CricBlog.

Ponting has been vocal in recent times about the need to drop Labuschagne. During the second Test against Bangladesh, the former Australia captain highlighted Labuschagne’s inability to score effectively off the back foot as a major concern, pointing out that the batter has averaged just 24 since his last Test century in 2023.

"I admire that they [the selectors] 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," Ponting said.

“He was unlucky today. There’s no doubt about that. 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,” he added.

Ponting's backing for Connolly's selection

Ponting was pleased with Australia’s decision to include Cooper Connolly in the squad. He believes Australia are now in a position where strong Sheffield Shield numbers should not be the sole prerequisite for earning selection, with talent also deserving greater consideration.

“Don’t worry about Sheffield Shield numbers. Just pick talent. (Connolly is) certainly one of those guys that leaps off a page when you look at him talent-wise. And the reason I say that as well is, I know there’s been a bit of talk the last couple of days about you know Marnus at his best was one of the best in the world. Yeah, that’s true. But was also averaging 35 in Shield cricket when he got picked," said Ponting.