Australia’s No. 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne has come under heavy scrutiny following his low scores against Bangladesh in the home team’s historic defeat in Darwin on Sunday.
Australia began their 20-Test sojourn with an unexpected and shocking loss to the Asian side that is playing its first Test series down under since 2003.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s team held a grip on the AUS vs BAN 1st Test soon after the match kicked off, bundling Australia out for only 198, with Hasan Mahmud claiming a six-wicket haul.
In reply, Bangladesh buried Australia under a mountain of runs, finishing with 426 runs on the back of a century from Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and half-centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shanto.
Australia overcame the deficit of 228 runs through Camron Green’s century but managed a slender lead of 56 runs, handing the visitors a small target of 57 runs, which Bangladesh chased down comfortably.
This is Bangladesh’s only second Test match win over Australia and first away from the comforts of home.
Ricky Ponting suggests axing of Marnus Labuschagne and Jake Weatherald
The spotlight is now firmly on the potential changes that Pat Cummins could ring in for the 2nd Test in Mackay. Labuschagne’s and opener Jake Weatherald’s positions seem under threat right now.
Weatherald, who made his debut in the Ashes last year, averages only 20 in six Tests, while Labuschagne averages 22 in his last 10 Test matches.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has suggested the dropping of Labuschagne and Weatherald amid their poor returns with the bat.
Ponting said on Channel 7, “I think it’s inevitable they have to make change. I was on the record at the end of last summer thinking that this was the ideal time to start to regenerate this team because the performances from some of the players. I’m the last one to want to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together. So it has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out.
“But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that 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.”
Among the batting options that Australia have are Josh Inglis, Matt Renshaw, Kurtis Patterson, Sam Konstas, and Nathan McSweeney.
AUS vs BAN: When is the Australia vs Bangladesh 2nd Test?
The second Test match between Australia and Bangladesh is scheduled to be played from August 22 in Mackay.
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