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Ricky Ponting picks his Aussie top order ahead of the Ashes
Lachlan Geleit • September 22nd, 2025 12:44 pm
Ricky Ponting thinks it might be too late to make any real wholesale changes to Australia’s XI ahead of this summer’s Ashes series.
While the Aussies won all three of their most recent Tests in the Caribbean, some real doubts have been placed on the side ahead of the 2025/26 series against England, particularly on the batting line-up, which has been short of runs for some time.
Even though some of that lack of big runs can be put down to conditions favouring bowling, it’s not an ideal situation for the Aussies to be in, with only two or three of the side’s top six really settled in their roles.
The main point of contention seems to be whether Australia will stick with young opener Sam Konstas or bring Marnus Labuschagne back into the fold.
For Ponting, he’d stick with Konstas at the top alongside Usman Khawaja, particularly after the 19-year-old scored 109 and 27 not out for Australia A against India A in Lucknow last week.
The former Aussie skipper would also play both Cameron Green and Beau Webster, keeping with the same top six that played against the West Indies in Jamaica.
“Everyone's been talking about how crucial these first four Sheffield Shield games are, particularly for some of our top order batters, and I agree with that,” Ponting told SEN Tassie.
“But I also feel that it's probably got almost to the point where it's too late to be making too many big wholesale changes to the current team going into an Ashes series.
“Konstas has obviously just done well. He made a hundred for Australia A over in India, which is exactly what he needed. So, I can see our top order being Konstas and Khawaja.
“I think the fact that they've moved Green up to number three in the Caribbean probably suggests to me that they see him as that long-term number three.
“Smith will stay at four, Head at five, and then I would keep Beau at number six.
“I can't see how they could leave Beau out of the side and keep some of the other guys in. That's the way that I'm sort of looking at it.”
While Ponting would be picking Green in his side no matter what, one thing he thinks Australia could do if they’re worried about where the all-rounder slots into the side is moving Travis Head from No.5 to No.3.
Even though Head has only batted at three once in his Test career, Ponting thinks it’s an option the Aussies have if they want to put the pressure back on an England side that likes to play aggressive cricket.
“The other thing I thought they could do if they were worried about that (Green’s role) at all – and with our current openers who are probably not the fastest scorers (is move Travis Head up),” Ponting said.
“Head is the second most established player in that (batting) lineup, probably behind Steve Smith, and the natural progression for players of that sort of age … you usually come into the side as a number five or six player, and eventually you'd work your way up and find yourself in a number three slot.
“So, they could think about doing that with Travis Head and with the way that England play their cricket, to have someone like Head coming in at number three and being able to put some pressure back on (could be strong).”
The first Test between Australia and England begins on November 21 at Optus Stadium. Catch every ball of the Ashes on SEN - your home of cricket.
