Australia go against Ricky Ponting with brutal decision before Bangladesh second Test

Australia have gone against the wishes of cricket icon Ricky Ponting with a brutal decision, ahead of a must-win second Test against Bangladesh.

Ponting was outspoken in his criticism of two athletes, Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne, after Australia suffered what many described as an embarrassing loss to Bangladesh.

The Aussies entered the showdown as the top-ranked Test nation, whereas Bangladesh hadn’t played a series under the five-day format in the country since a 2-0 defeat back in 2003.

Bangladesh proceeded to record their greatest ever Test victory with a historic nine-wicket win, sending shockwaves throughout the world of Australian cricket.

Pressure was immediately placed on the national cricket selectors ahead of the second Test, with Ponting among those advocating for certain names to be replaced in the line-up.

The Aussie selection for their historic defeat in Darwin can be described as ageing, with the cricket icon deeming it necessary to “regenerate” the side going forward.

Australia’s 13-man squad for the second Test, beginning Saturday in Mackay as the hosts look to level the series, has been announced, and Ponting has only partially seen his wish realised.

Australia go against Ponting with brutal decision in 13-man line-up

The decision has been made to replace Weatherald with Matt Renshaw, aligning with Ponting’s hopes; however, Labuschagne has retained his position in the 13-man line-up.

Weatherald was out for 23 in the first innings, averaging 20.36 in 12 Test innings; Renshaw hasn’t started a Test since 2023 and will replace the 31-year-old in the selection.

Labuschagne hasn’t made an international century in over three years and endured a torrid first Test, now averaging 25.23 across his last 42 Test innings.

When quizzed as to why the 32-year-old retained his place in the line-up, coach Andrew McDonald confessed “we’ve got to get the best out of Marn.”

He stated: Ultimately, it’s [Labuschagne’s second innings] 31. It's not a big score. He's lacked runs. He feels that. We feel that. We're working incredibly hard as a coaching group.

"He's had a bit of a lull. He knows that he's gone to work. I think we saw some change in the way that he played, so that's good. Some of that work that he had done feels as though it's stuck up under pressure,” continued McDonald.

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Ponting was outspoken with his criticism for both players to Channel 7 after the Aussies’ historic loss on home turf, stating: “[This is] a very embarrassing defeat. I think it’s inevitable they have to make changes.

“Look, I’m the last one to want to make a change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together,” he continued. It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out.

“There had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest they weren’t going to lose anything or much at all by starting that regeneration, by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No.3. I think that that has to happen,” concluded Ponting.

Former Australian bowler Trent Copeland was far more ruthless in his analysis of the defeat to Bangladesh, describing it as “a completely unacceptable test match result for Australia.”

“When you are in your own conditions, I don’t care about the preparation; I don’t care who’s playing for Australia even. You cannot lose to Bangladesh in Australia in a Test match,” he seethed.