Six-year first no worry for Aussies in West Indies
Travis Head insists there are no concerns over top-order inexperience as Australia prepare to enter a Test match without Steve Smith or Manus Labuschagne for the first time since 2018.
Wednesday's series opener against West Indies in Barbados will see a new-look top order for the tourists, with Sam Konstas expected to open and Josh Inglis to bat as high as No.4.
Cameron Green will also likely feature in the top four alongside veteran Usman Khawaja, against an attack spearheaded by quick Shamar Joseph.
Smith and Labuschagne have been something of a cornerstone of Australia's success over the past six years, with at least one of the pair featuring in every Test since Smith's return from the ball-tampering ban in 2019.
The 2018 Boxing Day Test against India marks the last time neither played for Australia, while at least one of them featured in 118 of Australia's 124 Tests since midway through March 2013.
"They're still around, so it still feels similar at the moment in the build up," Head said.
"When we get into the game it will be a little new look. But it's guys who have already played, guys with experience already in a short amount of Test cricket.
"And guys we have played a lot of different cricket around in my career.
"It might be a bit different with some familiar faces, but there are some guys there who have been part of the group for a long time."
The left-hander said he did not expect to move up the order to help bridge the gulf in experience, having become one of the world's best No.5s in recent years.
Smith is some chance to return for the second Test in Grenada starting July 3, depending on the state of his finger after dislocating it in the World Test Championship final.
And Head believed it would also only be a matter of time before Labuschagne also forced his way back in.
"He will grind away," Head said.
"He grinded yesterday after training. He will hit balls and work on his game. There is no doubt he will be back in international cricket.
"Everyone has been through it.
"He will go about his thing. He will get better and let's hope for a better, stronger Marnus when he comes back."
The West Indies series will form the start of the next Test Championship cycle, while also offering selectors a crucial eye to this summer's Ashes.
Head said the team had tried to move on fast from their defeat to South Africa at Lord's earlier this month, with a new motivation to make the 2027 decider.
"It's unfortunate, we put two years of hard work into one week and it didn't quite go to plan," the South Australian said.
"There is another motivation, we have two years to build and have another look at it.
"If you dwell on it for too long or look back, you forget about what is coming."
Travis Head insists there are no concerns over top-order inexperience as Australia prepare to enter a Test match without Steve Smith or Manus Labuschagne for the first time since 2018.
Wednesday's series opener against West Indies in Barbados will see a new-look top order for the tourists, with Sam Konstas expected to open and Josh Inglis to bat as high as No.4.
Cameron Green will also likely feature in the top four alongside veteran Usman Khawaja, against an attack spearheaded by quick Shamar Joseph.
Smith and Labuschagne have been something of a cornerstone of Australia's success over the past six years, with at least one of the pair featuring in every Test since Smith's return from the ball-tampering ban in 2019.
The 2018 Boxing Day Test against India marks the last time neither played for Australia, while at least one of them featured in 118 of Australia's 124 Tests since midway through March 2013.
"They're still around, so it still feels similar at the moment in the build up," Head said.
"When we get into the game it will be a little new look. But it's guys who have already played, guys with experience already in a short amount of Test cricket.
"And guys we have played a lot of different cricket around in my career.
"It might be a bit different with some familiar faces, but there are some guys there who have been part of the group for a long time."
The left-hander said he did not expect to move up the order to help bridge the gulf in experience, having become one of the world's best No.5s in recent years.
Smith is some chance to return for the second Test in Grenada starting July 3, depending on the state of his finger after dislocating it in the World Test Championship final.
And Head believed it would also only be a matter of time before Labuschagne also forced his way back in.
"He will grind away," Head said.
"He grinded yesterday after training. He will hit balls and work on his game. There is no doubt he will be back in international cricket.
"Everyone has been through it.
"He will go about his thing. He will get better and let's hope for a better, stronger Marnus when he comes back."
The West Indies series will form the start of the next Test Championship cycle, while also offering selectors a crucial eye to this summer's Ashes.
Head said the team had tried to move on fast from their defeat to South Africa at Lord's earlier this month, with a new motivation to make the 2027 decider.
"It's unfortunate, we put two years of hard work into one week and it didn't quite go to plan," the South Australian said.
"There is another motivation, we have two years to build and have another look at it.
"If you dwell on it for too long or look back, you forget about what is coming."
Travis Head insists there are no concerns over top-order inexperience as Australia prepare to enter a Test match without Steve Smith or Manus Labuschagne for the first time since 2018.
Wednesday's series opener against West Indies in Barbados will see a new-look top order for the tourists, with Sam Konstas expected to open and Josh Inglis to bat as high as No.4.
Cameron Green will also likely feature in the top four alongside veteran Usman Khawaja, against an attack spearheaded by quick Shamar Joseph.
Smith and Labuschagne have been something of a cornerstone of Australia's success over the past six years, with at least one of the pair featuring in every Test since Smith's return from the ball-tampering ban in 2019.
The 2018 Boxing Day Test against India marks the last time neither played for Australia, while at least one of them featured in 118 of Australia's 124 Tests since midway through March 2013.
"They're still around, so it still feels similar at the moment in the build up," Head said.
"When we get into the game it will be a little new look. But it's guys who have already played, guys with experience already in a short amount of Test cricket.
"And guys we have played a lot of different cricket around in my career.
"It might be a bit different with some familiar faces, but there are some guys there who have been part of the group for a long time."
The left-hander said he did not expect to move up the order to help bridge the gulf in experience, having become one of the world's best No.5s in recent years.
Smith is some chance to return for the second Test in Grenada starting July 3, depending on the state of his finger after dislocating it in the World Test Championship final.
And Head believed it would also only be a matter of time before Labuschagne also forced his way back in.
"He will grind away," Head said.
"He grinded yesterday after training. He will hit balls and work on his game. There is no doubt he will be back in international cricket.
"Everyone has been through it.
"He will go about his thing. He will get better and let's hope for a better, stronger Marnus when he comes back."
The West Indies series will form the start of the next Test Championship cycle, while also offering selectors a crucial eye to this summer's Ashes.
Head said the team had tried to move on fast from their defeat to South Africa at Lord's earlier this month, with a new motivation to make the 2027 decider.
"It's unfortunate, we put two years of hard work into one week and it didn't quite go to plan," the South Australian said.
"There is another motivation, we have two years to build and have another look at it.
"If you dwell on it for too long or look back, you forget about what is coming."
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