Axe hangs over Australian batters after ‘most embarrassing’ defeat against Bangladesh

Former captain Ricky Ponting, who scored more than 13,000 Test runs, says it is time for tough decisions and to start regeneration

Australia’s humiliating nine-wicket loss to Bangladesh has accelerated calls for regeneration of its ageing Test team with opener Jake Weatherald and the inconsistent Marnus Labuschagne in the firing line.

The clash in Darwin had been touted as a mismatch after Bangladesh crumbled to an innings defeat in their only warm-up game and went into the first Test without injured pace spearhead Nahid Rana.

But in one of the biggest upsets cricket has seen, the visitors pulled off a historic victory Sunday to leave top-ranked Australia shell-shocked and facing recriminations.

Australia have suffered surprise home defeats in the recent past, including an eight-run loss to the West Indies at the Gabba in 2024.

But the manner of this crushing loss, with Bangladesh dominating each of the four days, had Australian media Monday slamming it as “a disaster” and the “most embarrassing” defeat.

Former captain Ricky Ponting, who scored more than 13,000 Test runs, said it was time for tough decisions.