Perform Or Perish! Marnus Labuschagne Issued Ultimatum By Australian Great

Marnus Labuschagne received a blunt warning from Steve Waugh [Source: AFP]

Marnus Labuschagne registered yet another batting failure for Australia, this time scoring just four off nine balls against Bangladesh on the opening day of the series-deciding second Test. Batting at number three, the cricketer got knocked over by Bangladesh’s comeback man Shoriful Islam at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

After coping much criticism from fans and cricket experts, Labuschagne has now been issued an ultimatum by Australia’s World Cup winning skipper and all-time great Steve Waugh.

Steve Waugh warns Marnus Labuschagne amid dwindling form

While speaking with Cricinfo, Steve Waugh praised Marnus Labuschagne for the “energy” he brings to the team with his athletic fielding. However, the former Australian cricketer also stated that Labuschagne desperately needs some runs under his belt to justify his place as team’s number three batter.

He said, “At number three, you’ve got to score runs. That’s the currency of batsmen. Marnus knows that. I’m sure he is feeling a bit of pressure. He adds a lot to the team, he gives them energy, he’s an outstanding fielder. So you can’t purely judge him on his batting stats.”

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Steve Waugh further signified the value of a number three batter for any team, and indirectly issued an ultimatum to the struggling Australian batter. According to the World Cup-winning Australian skipper, the 32-year-old might lose his place in the side if he fails to regain his lost touch with the bat.

Waugh said, “But having said that, at number three he’s got to score runs and he knows he needs big runs. I think the Australian team want him in there, but you just can’t keep picking players for the sake of it. He’s got to score runs.”

A look at Labuschagne’s dwindling numbers

Marnus Labuschagne, a veteran of 65 Tests for Australia, is currently holding an average of just 43.79 despite starting out his career with an average of above 50 in his first couple of years. 

In the ongoing 2025-27 WTC cycle itself, the right-handed batter has aggregated just 295 runs in 13 innings spanning seven matches at a dismal average of 24.58, with just two fifties to his name.

Even in the preceding 2023-25 cycle, the cricketer minted just 974 runs in 38 innings at a below-par average of 27.82 with just one century and eight fifties. 

In desperate need of some runs under his belt, Marnus Labuschagne batted at his usual number three position for Australia on Day 1 of their series-deciding second Test against Bangladesh. However, the cricketer got knocked over by Bangladesh paceman Shoriful Islam for just four off nine balls. 

He has now registered just 39 runs in three innings of the ongoing series so far with a dismal average of 13.

When Ricky Ponting warned Marnus Labuschagne

Incidentally, Steve Waugh is not the only Australian World Cup-winning captain this month who has called out Marnus Labuschagne for his underwhelming numbers in Test cricket.

Earlier this week, fellow former captain Ricky Ponting also urged Labuschagne to lift his game, and even urged the Australian selectors and the team management to reconsider the team’s top three going ahead.

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