Ricky Ponting says Marnus Labuschagne must play in the Ashes

Aussie Test great Ricky Ponting likes what he sees from young all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne so much he’s made a bold declaration about the Queenslander’s Ashes prospects.

Marnus Labuschagne has shown enough for Aussie great Ricky Ponting to declare him a certainty for the Ashes. Picture: AAP

Test great Ricky Ponting has declared Marnus Labuschagne to be an Ashes certainty.

Labuschagne will get another chance today to cement his spot at No.3 for next month’s series against Sri Lanka, but Ponting says he’s already seen enough to put the Queenslander on a plane to the UK in August.

Australia are under enormous pressure to get their squad right for the two Tests against Sri Lanka later this month, because if runs come relatively easily against the lowly ranked nation, it could trap the selectors for the Ashes.

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Marnus Labuschagne has shown enough for Aussie great Ricky Ponting to declare him a certainty for the Ashes. Picture: AAP

So far in his career Labuschagne has been favoured on slow, spinning tracks in the UAE and Sydney but his assured knock under an intense spotlight in the first innings at the SCG has set up the likelihood he will be backed in against Sri Lanka no matter what the conditions.

Ponting said he would have Labuschagne pencilled in alongside Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja as Australia’s Ashes must-haves.

“Harris is (a lock), I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s played,” Ponting told cricket.com.au

“Khawaja is a lock to go even though he hasn’t had a great series so far.

“On the back of what I saw today I really liked what I got to see from Marnus. His technique looked good.

“He plays in Brisbane so he handles the swinging ball well which you sort of expect over in England so I’d pick him on the back of what I’ve seen today.

“Travis Head, our second leading run-scorer in this series but once again just lots of starts without going on. I think they’ll probably stick with him.

“You’ve got to put some question marks over the others.”

Labuschagne can chime in with some leggies. Picture: AFP

Shaun Marsh is the Australian star perhaps the most in the gun.

If Marsh can’t make a big score today it will be his third straight series without a significant impact and at age 35, he lives at the mercy of selectors who might finally decide to back in younger talent.

The decision over whether Marsh plays against Sri Lanka is realistically a call over whether or not selectors believe they want him for their Ashes crusade.

Marsh says he’s trying to focus on the here and now.

“Obviously it’s been a bit frustrating. I haven’t been able to convert my starts into big scores so it’s been a bit disappointing,” Marsh told Fox Cricket.

“I’m working hard and hoping there’s a big one in the second innings.

“I’ve been getting myself in but just been getting out. At Test cricket level you have to be able to convert your starts into big scores and unfortunately I haven’t done it this series.

“I try not to think about it too much. I’ll just focus on what I’ve got coming up and hopefully I can get out there at some stage, bat again and put some runs on the board.

“I have felt really good in the one dayers over the past few months so I’m looking forward to the one day series after this Test series.”

Despite a lean series, Ponting says Usman Khawaja is a certainty for the Ashes. Picture: AAP