Cummins says Green ‘long-term option' as Australia face new-look West Indies
BRIDGETOWN: Cameron Green is the 'long-term option' to bat at number three for Australia, Pat Cummins said, after the captain named his team for Wednesday's opening Test against the West Indies in Barbados.
Green scored only four runs and faced just five balls in the World Test Championship final defeat against South Africa this month after being elevated to come in at the fall of the first wicket.
But Cummins told reporters in Barbados that Green would retain his place in the batting order, with Josh Inglis at number four while Steve Smith recovers from a finger injury.
Steve Smith in doubt for Australia's West Indies tour
'We always like to not have too many moving parts,' Cummins said.
'We see (Green at three) as a long-term option. He's hitting the ball really well.
'He had a Test match where it didn't go to plan. The message is not to look into that too much.
'We're really happy with where his game is placed and I dare say he'll get a decent run at number three.'
The recalled 19-year-old Sam Konstas will open alongside Usman Khawaja, after it was previously announced that Marnus Labuschagne had been dropped.
'Sammy is obviously an opener and the available spot for Josh this week is at number four,' added Cummins.
Australia have retained the same bowling attack that played in the defeat to South Africa, with just one specialist spinner in Nathan Lyon.
'We don't really know what to expect but it feels like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket,' fast bowler Cummins said.
'I think it'll be a pretty good wicket with maybe a little bit of spin later on in the game, (but) honestly, I've got no idea.'
New captain
A new-look West Indies will also line up with three quick bowlers in Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales.
Roston Chase, who has replaced Kraigg Brathwaite as captain and will be playing his first Test in more than two years, has two spinners at his disposal.
Chase said he hoped the visitors were 'still hurting' from Shamar Joseph's seven-wicket haul in their shock win at Brisbane's Gabba in January 2024.
'I hope there are some scars,' Chase told reporters.
New red-ball coach Darren Sammy completely overhauled the playing squad.
The West Indies team contains just four players from the eight-run win at the Gabba and just three survivors from their last Test, against Pakistan in January.
Explosive Twenty20 batsman Brandon King will make his Test debut and white-ball captain Shai Hope returns to the longest format for the first time since 2021.
Opening batsman John Campbell is back after three years in the Test wilderness.
Teams
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Roston Chase (capt), Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Chase ready to lead much-changed Windies
Change will be a key theme for both the West Indies and Australia in their upcoming three-test series in the Caribbean with the visitors set to field a remodelled batting line-up and the hosts being led out for the first time by Roston Chase. Pat Cummins suggested Australia were due a top-order reset after their loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final earlier this month and the skipper said their line-up to face West Indies shows they are looking to the future. Australia have brought in teenager Sam Konstas to open the batting with Usman Khawaja and added Josh Inglis to the line-up, while they will be without the dropped Marnus Labuschagne and injured veteran Steve Smith for a series which marks the start of both teams' new WTC cycle. Both Konstas and Inglis have played only two tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season, and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Australia could lose as many as half a dozen test regulars to retirement after this year's Ashes series with the likes of Khawaja, Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all in their mid to late 30s. When asked about the changes ahead of the first match beginning in Bridgetown later on Wednesday, Cummins told reporters: "You look forward to what the next couple of years are going to look like. "I think part of that's a keenness to get Sam and Josh into the squad, into the playing 11. You start looking at what the batting order might look like for the next couple of years. I think that's part of the reset. "And your goals change a little bit obviously. We're starting on zero points, so it's a bit of a mental reset. You block out the last couple of years and then start again." Cameron Green has retained his place at number three despite scoring only four runs and facing just five balls in the WTC final, with Cummins saying he viewed the 26-year-old all-rounder as a long-term option in the slot. "He had a test match where it obviously didn't go to plan," he added. "Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We're really happy with where his game's placed and I dare say we'll get a decent run of number three." Scars Spin-bowling all-rounder Chase, who last played a test match in March 2023, will have his work cut out for him as he takes charge of a much-changed West Indies side who finished second bottom in the previous WTC cycle. "You can expect positive cricket from us," Chase, who succeeded Kraigg Brathwaite as captain in May, told reporters. "We're looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game, and we're looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. "It's still test cricket, so you still have to have some type of patience, so it'll (be on) the guys to mix their aggression with that patience." The sides last met in a two-test series in January 2024 which ended all square after West Indies claimed a shock eight-run victory in the second test in Brisbane - their first test win over Australia since 2003. "I hope there are some scars," Chase said. "If they're still thinking about that match going out there on Wednesday, that would be very good for us – that will be part of the job done for us."
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Cummins says Green ‘long-term option' as Australia face new-look West Indies
BRIDGETOWN: Cameron Green is the 'long-term option' to bat at number three for Australia, Pat Cummins said, after the captain named his team for Wednesday's opening Test against the West Indies in Barbados. Green scored only four runs and faced just five balls in the World Test Championship final defeat against South Africa this month after being elevated to come in at the fall of the first wicket. But Cummins told reporters in Barbados that Green would retain his place in the batting order, with Josh Inglis at number four while Steve Smith recovers from a finger injury. Steve Smith in doubt for Australia's West Indies tour 'We always like to not have too many moving parts,' Cummins said. 'We see (Green at three) as a long-term option. He's hitting the ball really well. 'He had a Test match where it didn't go to plan. The message is not to look into that too much. 'We're really happy with where his game is placed and I dare say he'll get a decent run at number three.' The recalled 19-year-old Sam Konstas will open alongside Usman Khawaja, after it was previously announced that Marnus Labuschagne had been dropped. 'Sammy is obviously an opener and the available spot for Josh this week is at number four,' added Cummins. Australia have retained the same bowling attack that played in the defeat to South Africa, with just one specialist spinner in Nathan Lyon. 'We don't really know what to expect but it feels like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket,' fast bowler Cummins said. 'I think it'll be a pretty good wicket with maybe a little bit of spin later on in the game, (but) honestly, I've got no idea.' New captain A new-look West Indies will also line up with three quick bowlers in Shamar Joseph, Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. Roston Chase, who has replaced Kraigg Brathwaite as captain and will be playing his first Test in more than two years, has two spinners at his disposal. Chase said he hoped the visitors were 'still hurting' from Shamar Joseph's seven-wicket haul in their shock win at Brisbane's Gabba in January 2024. 'I hope there are some scars,' Chase told reporters. New red-ball coach Darren Sammy completely overhauled the playing squad. The West Indies team contains just four players from the eight-run win at the Gabba and just three survivors from their last Test, against Pakistan in January. Explosive Twenty20 batsman Brandon King will make his Test debut and white-ball captain Shai Hope returns to the longest format for the first time since 2021. Opening batsman John Campbell is back after three years in the Test wilderness. Teams West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Roston Chase (capt), Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Australia's Khawaja ready to be a mentor for teenager Konstas
Experienced Australia batter Usman Khawaja said he is ready to guide 19-year-old Sam Konstas through his journey as a test opener as the pair prepare to walk out onto the pitch together for the first match against West Indies in Bridgetown. Konstas has been drafted in to replace Marnus Labuschagne, who opened in the World Test Championship final alongside Khawaja but failed to impress as Australia lost to South Africa by five wickets. 'It's an added role. To help Sammy along through his journey, trying to impart as much knowledge as I can. I won't be around forever,' Khawaja told reporters ahead of the match beginning on Wednesday. 'But it's very important that I can do whatever I can, obviously first and foremost, have a solid partnership between us but then a bit of stability at the top, but also guide him through this journey. 'He's still very young, he's a 19-year-old boy, and it's quite exciting. There's obviously this series and then a big Ashes coming up.' While Konstas will be eager to prove himself, the three-test series will also give Khawaja another opportunity to quash any doubts about his ability to handle seam bowling. The 38-year-old struggled against South Africa, departing for a duck in the first innings and scoring just six runs in his second, losing his wicket on both occasions to fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Rahul digs in as India build lead over England 'I can't understand how I can (have a problem against seam bowling) if I can score so many runs in Shield cricket or be the highest run-scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle,' Khawaja said. 'I open the batting for Australia. So I get out to seam more than I get out to anyone else … I understand I'm 38-years-old. People will be looking for an excuse.'
