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Perth Now
30 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Positions up for grabs in new-look Australia order
Josh Inglis is unsure where he will bat in the new-look Australia line-up as the vanquished Test champions prepare to play in the West Indies for the first time in a decade. After scoring a century on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year, Inglis made way for the World Test Championship final at Lord's. But after Marnus Labuschagne's long-term struggles continued and Steve Smith suffered a nasty dislocated finger in the shock defeat to South Africa, Australia have opted to bring Inglis and teenage tyro Sam Konstas in for the first Test in Barbados. In his two Tests in Galle, Inglis batted at No.5 as Travis Head pushed up to open as he often has in Asia. But with Konstas almost certain to partner veteran opener Usman Khawaja in facing the new ball, Inglis could be asked to bat at No.3. Cameron Green's best position is at No.4, now vacant due to Smith's injury. In his first Test for more than a year in the WTC final, Green looked troubled batting at No.3. Inglis is genuinely unfazed where he bats, having constantly moved around in the first-class cricket for Western Australia and in international white-ball games. "I think it's just because I have done it, I feel comfortable going into different positions," Inglis told reporters at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval on Monday. "I've batted at the top in white-ball cricket and in the middle, so I've become accustomed to moving around a fair bit and something I pride myself on. "With 'Smudge' (Smith) getting injured there was an opportunity for someone else to come in. "I took a lot of confidence from (from Sri Lanka); my debut Test match, it was nice to go out there and get a hundred." Incumbent wicketkeeper Alex Carey will retain the gloves, meaning Inglis will likely be in the slip cordon. But the 30-year-old said he prided himself on fielding well, having only taken up wicketkeeping full-time when he was 14 years old. Australia's leaders, coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins, have been open about this series being a "reset" for the group. They were unable to defend the Test title they won in 2023, but the first Test, starting Thursday midnight AEST, gets the new WTC cycle underway. Australia convincingly won both matches of the two-Test tour of the West Indies back in 2015. Star bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon featured in the Caribbean a decade ago, but the other eight members of the XI have never played a Test in the region. Australia's batting order suddenly seems very inexperienced, with Konstas and Inglis have only played two Tests each, while allrounder Beau Webster is preparing for his fifth. Windies pace sensation Shamar Joseph will be hoping coming up against Australia again will bring out his best. Joseph, in just his second Test, famously bowled the touring Windies to a famous and unlikely win over Australia at the Gabba the last time the teams played a Test in January 2024.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
SuperCoach NRL trade tips and talk: Live Q&A and round 17 teams reveal
Fletcher Sharpe has accumulated the second-most points of any CTW and has the sixth best average of any player available at the position. So the news that the Newcastle gun, who started the weekend in more than 30% of teams, had suffered both a lacerated kidney and ruptured spleen on the weekend would normally come as a hammer blow to SuperCoaches. However, there is a clear silver lining here. Canterbury served their final bye of the season last week which means Jacob Kiraz - who has the third-best average of any CTW - is now a very strong BUY. Priced at a mere $33K premium to Sharpe, Kiraz has failed to reach 60 points just once this season (and even in his worst game he still scored 53) and punched through the 90 point barrier in each of his past two games despite not scoring a try in either match. Averaging 34PPG in base and a phenomenal 25PPG in offloads/tackle busts there's no safer backline prospect than the Bulldog. Now I'll just say what we're all thinking - hopefully Kiraz has more luck with injuries than the top backline picks of the past three weeks! Join our live trade talk via the comments section below … BUY/SELL ANALYSIS Josiah Karapani: It's not too late for cheapies, especially cheapies who have scored four tries in their past two games. The left edge of the Broncos is a good place to be and Karapani is making the most of it. He cannot keep scoring tries at that rate - and his opponents over the next fortnight (top-four Warriors and Bulldogs) should prove stiffer than the Titans and Sharks were. However, from there the medium term draw is Titans, Eels and Rabbitohs. That's enticing. With a BE of -85 if you don't buy Karapani this week you'll be paying around $150K more for the privilege in a couple of weeks. BUY Harry Grant: The Storm hooker has strong formlines around finishing the season well and has averaged between 15-20PPG more in the final eight rounds of the season than he has through the middle over the past three years. Consecutive scores in the 80s suggest that Grant is warming up again and I'll be keen to add him to my side for the run home. However, with Origin duties set to see Grant miss round 18 the week to buy him is leading into round 19 not now. WAIT Zac Lomax: The Parramatta winger's phenomenal workrate, he is averaging almost 40PPG in base, plus his goalkicking duties means that even when he fails to score a try Lomax is still likely to exceed 60 points. While I have him behind the likes of Farnworth, Kiraz and Lucas in my CTW pecking order he then sits alongside Garrick and Holmes - and with a lower ownership than both. However, like Grant, Lomax does not play round 18, and I think this week is a week early to be buying. WAIT Viliame Kikau: I've been singing big Billy's praises for a few weeks now and see no reason to change my tune now. Kikau will never be the safest of second row options - his base of 38BPPG does not even crack the top-50 at his position. However, Kikau's attacking threat - he's the leader at his position for offloads and also linebreak assists and equal leader for try assists - more than makes up for his workrate deficiencies and sees him boast the fourth best average of any 2RF. The Bulldogs have no more byes left to serve and while there are safer options at the position (like the next man on this list) I do like Kikau's upside. BUY Erin Clark: The Warriors lock is a much safer 2RF option. He has the fifth best base (54BPPG) of any option at the position, is top-five for tackle busts and top-ten for offloads all of which combine to rank Clark behind only Pat Carrigan and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui for base/power combined. However, like Lomax and Grant above, Clark (bye) does not play round 18 so prospective owners should bear that in mind before making any trades. WAIT Alex Johnston: Last week I broke my own golden rule regarding not recommending wingers as a BUY off the back of big try hauls and said that Jack Bostock was probably worth the risk. And while he did not fail due to form he did succumb to injury and those hoping for some easy profits have to sell. Well, 'AJ' scored four against the Storm and comes into this week with a low BE and the prospect of a negative BE the week after. A try scoring freak on the precipice of breaking Ken Irvine's record for the most tries in first grade rugby league in Australia, Johnston never has been a SuperCoach stud. As to why, one needs only look at his scores in round 11, 14 and 15. SJ scored a try in each of those games and yet finished with scores of 48, 53 and 55. A pure finisher who averages less than 20BPPG, Johnston needs to score multiple tries to hit 60+. PASS Lehi Hopoate: Word is Manly have come to their senses and will move Tom Trbojevic to the centres and slot Lehi Hopoate into fullback. A genuine stud at the position I can see Hopoate having a field day this round against the Wests Tigers (at Brookvale Oval). Manly also provide valuable round 18 bye coverage. But I have Hoppa low on my 'Buy' list. In round 14 the young star copped a category 1 HIA and scored just two points. As a result he has a BE of 120 and a monster BE in round 18 too. Then Manly are on a bye in round 19. Then the draw gets super stiff with Manly facing Melbourne, Bulldogs, Roosters and Raiders from rounds 20-23 (inclusive). Hopoate is a guy I'd be happy to own and hold, but I consider others better buys at the position. HOLD/DON'T BUY Latu Fainu: The Wests Tigers have been waiting patiently for Fainu to bounce back from injury and reach match fitness playing him for 44 minutes in round 14 and 53 minutes in round 16. He aced the eye test in those games and scored at over a point per minute (though it should be noted he was playing a middle/utility role in those games and his workrate will possibly drop if starting in the halves). Tipped to start this week against Manly and with a BE of -11, Fainu could be a nice little earner at 5/8. However, his injury history is concerning and that concerns me this late in the season. RISKY BUY Tino Fa'asuamaleaui: The big Titan, dealing with injuries and a reduced club workload due to Origin commitments, is averaging less than 50PPG over his past three games. Which is obviously concerning. However, Tino still has the third best average season average of any 2RF and that speaks volumes about just how good he was before Origin. If you have held this long then I would advice you continue to hold. It is short term pain which will pay off in the long run. HOLD Jed Stuart: The eleventh most popular buy of the round and I don't really see it. The left edge of the Raiders was a decent place to be for Savelio Tamale but I put more of that down to Tamale's high workrate and excellent tackle busting. Stuart does not seem to be quite that guy with a lower workrate and less damaging running style. I much prefer Karapani if looking for cheapie CTW. PASS
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Inglis patient: WA star still waiting to see where he'll bat
Josh Inglis still doesn't know where he is batting in the opening Test against West Indies, with Australia poised to wait on one final look at the Barbados wicket before making a call on their order. On the eve of the opening match of the series, the recalled Inglis indicated he is likely to bat somewhere between three and five. But Australia has not locked down its batting order, with Travis Head opening the batting a live possibility in the opening Test from Wednesday night (AWST). Selectors confirmed last week in a rare move that Inglis and teen sensation Sam Konstas will return to the side that lost the World Test Championship earlier this month. Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped, while Steve Smith will miss with a finger injury. Labuschagne opened in the Test against South Africa, while Cam Green struggled at No.3 and Smith batted at four. It means all of those middle-order spots are up in the air. Inglis said he wasn't fussed about where he batted after earning a recall for just the third Test of his career. 'Not too sure yet, I think we will work through that... and find out,' Inglis said. Josh Inglis will be looking for a repeat of his success from Australia's Sri Lanka tour earlier this year. Credit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images 'I'm very happy to be back in the side, so as I said we will work through it and I will prep accordingly.' Inglis' versatility means he could fill any of those roles in the order and could serve as the middle-order aggressor if Head is elevated to open again. While Konstas is expected to open with Usman Khawaja, Head has been used in recent tours where conditions best suit spin bowling, to make good use of the hard new ball and pace bowlers. 'I think it's just because I have done it, I feel comfortable going into different positions,' Inglis said. 'I've obviously batted at the top in white-ball cricket and in the middle, so I've become accustomed to moving around a fair bit and it is something I sort of pride myself on.' Barbados is traditionally the most seamer-friendly of the Caribbean tracks, but Inglis predicted it will take spin later on. 'I'm not really sure what we're going to get,' he said. 'A lot of the cricket here has been quite slow, attritional cricket and the ball might spin towards the back-end of the game. 'I guess we have just got to see, adjust and communicate on the go.' Josh Inglis will be one of two inclusions for Australia. Credit: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images Inglis had long been the second wicketkeeper in line behind Alex Carey before forcing his way into the side for January's tour of Sri Lanka after emerging as one of the country's top players of spin bowling. He scored a century on debut in Galle, but didn't make the side that played South Africa at Lord's. He said he accepts Australia effectively has two different teams, one each for spin and seam-friendly conditions. 'I took a lot of confidence from it, obviously debut Test match, it's nice to go out there and get a hundred, but it's only one game so I have got to start again from here,' Inglis said. 'It was very conditions based (being dropped). We have seen that with this side we have almost got two separate sides for playing in the sub-continent and playing at home.' Australia is likely to take three quicks and Nathan Lyon into the match, although left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann did impress in Sri Lanka earlier this year and could be involved later in the series. Smith will also push to return after the opening Test from the gruesome finger injury he suffered at Lord's.
