Matt Renshaw is Australia’s most logical replacement, already inside the squad with a Sheffield Shield average of 49.90 and three centuries last season. Ricky Ponting escalated the debate on Channel 7 during the second Bangladesh Test in Mackay, when Marnus Labuschagne fell for four playing across the line yet again. The technical problem is specific: Labuschagne can’t score off the back foot, so bowlers set predictable fields and wait. Selectors have kept faith through South Africa, but with the Ashes opener in November approaching, patience is running out fast.
Ponting’s Case For Immediate Change
Ricky Ponting didn’t hedge when Labuschagne fell for four in Mackay. On Channel 7 he said the call should have been made at the start of the Bangladesh series, not after it. He pointed to a specific technical flaw: Labuschagne can’t score freely off the back foot, which lets bowlers set an off-stump trap and simply wait. Ian Healy backed the sentiment on Fox Sports, pushing for fresh faces before the South Africa tour.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald wasn’t ready to go that far. He admitted Labuschagne needs some big runs soon, but stopped short of confirming any change to the middle order. That gap between the commentary box and the dressing room is where this debate now sits.
A Test Average That Keeps Sliding
Labuschagne’s last Test century arrived in July 2023 at Old Trafford. Since then he has gone 43 innings across 23 Tests without reaching three figures, averaging just 25.32 in that stretch. It’s a startling drop from the average above 60 he carried between 2019 and 2022.
His Bangladesh series has done nothing to ease the pressure. Scores of 1 and 31 in Darwin were followed by 4 in Mackay, leaving him with 36 runs from three innings. He forced his way back into the side with five domestic centuries after being dropped for the 2025 West Indies tour, then managed just 166 runs at 18.44 across his last nine Ashes innings.
Ashes 2026 Marnus Labuschagne Replacement
Australia’s options for the middle order aren’t overflowing with obvious upgrades. Four names keep coming up in conversations around the squad, each with a different case to make.
Player | Shield/FC Average | Recent Bangladesh Series Form | Test Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
Marnus Labuschagne | Test average ~25 since July 2023 | 1, 31, 4 in three innings | 65 |
Matt Renshaw | Shield average 49.90, 3 centuries | Recalled for 2nd Test, scored 8 | 15 |
Cameron Green | Shield average 76.83 in 2020-21 | 104 in Darwin, 67 in Mackay | 39 |
Beau Webster | Strong Shield form, 2023-24 POTS | Unbeaten 71 plus 3 wickets vs India | 8 |
Ponting conceded there’s nobody banging down the door statistically in Sheffield Shield cricket, but he still believes timing the change matters more than waiting for a perfect option. The next Shield season doesn’t start until October, leaving selectors with limited fresh evidence before the November opener.
Renshaw And Green Lead The Contenders
Matt Renshaw looks like the safest short-term fit at No. 3. The 30-year-old left-hander averaged 49.90 across ten Shield innings last season with three centuries, the best return among Australia’s leading domestic run-scorers. He’s also scored heavily at Mackay itself, with 170 and 135 in two of his three Shield knocks there.
Cameron Green presents a trickier case. His Shield batting has been outstanding at times, including a 76.83 average in 2020-21, but his fitness and bowling workload remain live questions after returning from injury for the 2025 WTC final. Beau Webster has been a steady contributor since debuting, though his spot at No. 6 is under threat once Green’s bowling returns fully. Victoria’s uncapped Oliver Peake sits further back as a longer-term option.
None of the contenders make Labuschagne’s position fully secure right now. Each still gives selectors a genuine alternative if South Africa goes badly.
A Shallow Bench For Australia
Renshaw remains the pick if Australia move now. He’s already inside the squad, has the strongest recent Shield numbers, and carries a proven record against England from his earlier caps.
Selectors chose to retain Labuschagne for the second Bangladesh Test even as they dropped Jake Weatherald, a sign they want to give him one last look in South Africa before November. If those innings don’t turn around, the Ashes 2026 Marnus Labuschagne replacement conversation stops being hypothetical, and Renshaw gets the call at the Gabba.
Who would you pick at No. 3 for the first Ashes Test, Renshaw or Green? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did Ricky Ponting say Australia should drop Labuschagne?
Ponting says the technical problem is clear: Labuschagne can’t score off the back foot. That flaw let Bangladesh’s bowlers set attacking off-stump fields during his dismissal for four in Mackay on August 22.
Who is the leading candidate to replace Labuschagne at No. 3?
Matt Renshaw is the frontrunner, already inside Australia’s touring squad. He averaged 49.90 with three centuries in the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield season, the best mark among the top domestic run-scorers.
How many runs has Labuschagne scored against Bangladesh in 2026?
Labuschagne has managed only 36 runs across three innings this series. His scores read 1 and 31 in Darwin, then 4 in the second Test at Mackay.
Is Cameron Green a realistic option at No. 3 for Australia?
Green is a genuine option if he shifts from allrounder to specialist batter. He posted a 76.83 Shield average in 2020-21 and made 104 in Darwin plus 67 in Mackay this series.
When does the Australia squad face England in the Ashes opener?
The first Ashes Test is scheduled for November 2026. Selectors have limited first-class evidence before then, since the new Sheffield Shield season doesn’t start until October 2026.