Cricket 2025: Josh Inglis is ‘Australia's next Test captain', but he isn't in the team
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All eyes are on the World Test Championship (WTC) Final right now but Australia's Test team could look quite different when the squad heads to the West Indies later this month.
Australia are aiming to win back-to-back WTC maces with victory in the final at Lord's against South Africa, which is set to be a quick match after 14 wickets fell on Day 1 as Steve Smith made history.
Watch England vs India Test Series LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
The Aussies are boasting renewed depth in their Test squad, with Sam Konstas, Scott Boland and Josh Inglis unlucky to miss out on the WTC final given their strong recent form for the national side.
Respected cricket commentator Adam Collins told SEN's Cricket podcast ahead of the WTC Final he believes Inglis will be Australia's next Test captain despite the fact he is currently not in the team.
'I've got to say for the record, I'm a huge Inglis guy,' Collins said.
'I think Josh Inglis will be Australia's next Test captain. I think, over time, there will be a case for him to be invested in across the board.'
It's a bold call by Collins given the likes of Travis Head (age 31), Alex Carey (33) and Cameron Green (26) have been mentioned as future Test captains.
Pat Cummins has captained Australia since the 2021-22 Ashes and the 32-year-old fast bowler has signalled he has no plans to give up the captaincy anytime soon as he continues to win trophies.
Is Josh Inglis (left) Australia's next Test captain? (Photo by)
Inglis was born in the UK but moved to Australia when he was 14, going on to win domestic titles in all three formats with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.
He was part of the Australian squads that won the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship Final.
Inglis, 30, already belongs to an exclusive club of just five Australian players who have scored Test, ODI and T20I centuries — along with Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Beth Mooney.
His rapid fire century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year reinforced his credentials as a red ball player, as a wicketkeeper or batter only, after strong form in the Sheffield Shield.
But with Alex Carey's near impeccable form with the gloves and the bat in recent years, it remains to be seen how Inglis fits into the Australian team, given the emergence of Beau Webster and Cam Green's return from injury.
Inglis, Konstas and Boland are likely to feature in Australia's tour of the West Indies that begins later this month, featuring three Tests and five T20s.
Australia's Josh Inglis celebrates after scoring his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
The trio were overlooked for the WTC Final but Cummins has strongly hinted they will have a role to play against the West Indies, which serves as a key audition ahead of this summer's home Ashes.
Collins added: 'Round 1 of the next cycle in the Windies, I'd be almost certain Konstas plays, but this is a bit different being a one-off final.'
Pressure is mounting on Marnus Labuschagne's spot in the XI, with Konstas set to take his spot at the top of the order in the West Indies.
The three-Test series, plus all five T20 Internationals, will be broadcast live on ESPN from June 26 to July 29. ESPN is available to all Kayo Sports subscribers as part of their existing subscription.
Australia has not visited the Caribbean for a Test series in 10 years, while the last edition of the Frank Worrell Trophy in 2023-24 was drawn 1-1.
The latest renewal of this historic rivalry begins in Barbados with the first Test from June 26-30, followed by the second Test in Grenada from July 4-8 and a day-night Test in Jamaica from July 13-17.
Sam Konstas will get his chance to play in the West Indies. (Photo by)
The series will be Australia's final Test match preparations before a massive home Ashes series this summer, broadcast on Kayo Sports.
Following the Frank Worrell Trophy, the two nations will face off in five T20Is from July 21-29.
The series will form a crucial part of both sides' preparation for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
WEST INDIES V AUSTRALIA Every ball LIVE on ESPN, available on Kayo Sports.
Frank Worrell Trophy
First Test, Barbados: June 26-30, 12:00am AEST
Second Test, Grenada: July 4-8, 12:00am AEST
Third Test, Jamaica: July 13-17, 4:30am AEST
T20 International Series
First T20I, Jamaica: July 21, 10:00am AEST
Second T20I, Jamaica: July 23, 10:00am AEST
Third T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 26, 8:00am AEST
Fourth T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 27, 8:00am AEST
Fifth T20I, St Kitts and Nevis: July 29, 8:00am AEST
Australia's tour of the West Indies, live on ESPN, is also available on Foxtel.
Originally published as Smokey for 'Australia's next Test captain' named, but he isn't in the team
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News.com.au
38 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Panicked big time': WTC final rocked by ‘dodgy' act as Carey says not again
Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was embroiled in another Lord's controversy after South African batter David Bedingham evaded what would have been a bizarre dismissal on day two of the World Test Championship final. The match was on a knife's edge at stumps after Australia collapsed to be 8/144 in its second innings to lead by 218 runs - after earlier knocking South Africa over for 138. The major talking point came during the final over before lunch on Thursday night when Australian all-rounder Beau Webster produced a length delivery that found Bedingham's inside edge, striking him on the thigh and rolling down his upper leg. Anticipating a potential catch, Carey walked towards Bedingham with gloves at the ready as the ball bobbled near the flap of his right pad. 'Catch it, catch it,' Australian vice-captain Steve Smith was overheard saying on the stump mics, reported. However, the Proteas batter grabbed the ball, perhaps prematurely, and dropped it on the turf, prompting a muffled appeal from the Australians. 'How's that?' opener Usman Khawaja inquired from first slip. 'He's used his hand!' Carey, perhaps still scarred from the fallout of Jonny Bairstow's infamous stumping at the same venue two years ago, had no interest in offering an appeal. 'What's happening here?' former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said in commentary. 'Controversy at Lord's? No way. That will be talked about.' Former England bowler Stuart Broad, who featured in the 2023 Ashes Test at Lord's, continued: 'I wonder if Alex Carey just said, 'I'm not getting involved'. The ball never stopped, always moving. And Carey was pouncing.' Umpire Richard Illingworth briefly consulted his counterpart before signalling not out, with Australian captain Pat Cummins offering a sheepish smile. If the umpires had deemed that it was not a dead ball, Bedingham could have been given out for obstructing the field. Law 37.3.1 states: 'The striker is out obstructing the field if wilful obstruction or distraction by either batter prevents the striker being out caught.' However, it was not obvious whether the ball had lodged in Bedingham's pad when he grabbed the ball, which would have determined whether the ball was dead. Law 20.1.1.4 states: 'The ball becomes dead when, whether played or not, it becomes trapped between the bat and person of a batter or between items of their clothing or equipment.' Asked about the incident during the post-match press conference, Bedingham responded: 'I panicked big time, because I think Carey was standing up, so he was quite close. 'The umpire said regardless it was a dead ball, but I think the way I dropped the ball (and) picked up the ball came across as a bit dodgy. 'I'm glad they just withdrew the appeal ... I'm glad nothing happened out of it.' Meanwhile, Cummins explained that the umpires had ruled it as a dead ball, but elaborated that Australia 'probably would have withdrawn' the appeal. Bedingham, unbeaten on 31 at the time, was later dismissed by Cummins for 45 - one of the Aussie skipper's six first innings wickets. Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for one run, sparking South Africa's collapse. But the carnage continued in Australia's second dig as the Aussies were reduced to 7/73 as Kagiso Rabada (3/44) and Lungi Ngidi (3/35) did the bulk of the damage. But Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 to push the lead past 200 before the wicketkeeper was LBW to Rabada shortly before the close. The last over of the day saw Starc dropped on 14 when Marco Jansen shelled a routine catch off Wiaan Mulder. A remarkable 28 wickets fell in two days on a pitch which, while offering some assistance to the quicks, was by no means unplayable. But a match scheduled for five days, could now finish before the end of the third. 'In England when it's overcast, the ball seems to do a bit more,' Starc told the BBC. 'Everyone is quick to jump on the batters but you've got to notice the good bowling from both sides.' Ngidi, meanwhile, insisted South Africa were still in the game. 'It's in the balance right now,' he said. 'Two wickets in hand, if we can knock those over and maybe chase 225, people are going to get their money's worth.' Rabada, who had taken 5/51 in the first innings, tormented Australia again with two wickets in the 11th over. He had Usman Khawaja caught behind for six and, two balls later, removed Cameron Green for a duck following the number three's four in the first innings. Wickets continued to tumble after tea. Left-arm quick Jansen had Marnus Labuschagne, in his first Test as an opener, caught behind for 22. And Australia's 3/44 became 4/48 next over when Beau Webster, who topscored in Australia's first innings with 72, fell lbw to Ngidi. Australia were reeling at 7/73 after Cummins was bowled off his pad by an excellent Ngidi yorker. But Carey and Starc led a defiant response that kept their side on course to retain the title. Earlier, Cummins finished with figures of 6/28 as he reached 300 career Test wickets and secured a coveted place on the Lord's honours board with a five-wicket haul. 'He does it time and time again,' said Starc of Cummins. 'He led from the front before he was captain and now as captain as well. 'The quality and skills he has in his pocket – I'm thrilled for him to get a bagful. To go to 300 is a special effort.' South Africa lost their last five wickets for 12 runs as Cummins ripped through the batting order. Only South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (36) and David Bedingham (45) offered meaningful resistance during a fifth-wicket stand of 64. After lunch, Cummins struck four times in a mere 17 balls of devastating pace bowling. South Africa had resumed on Thursday at 4/43, battling to put enough runs on the board. Bavuma, who faced 37 balls for his overnight three not out, changed gears with a lofted cover-drive for four off left-arm quick Starc before pulling Cummins for six. Cummins had his revenge, however, when Bavuma's checked drive was brilliantly caught at cover by a diving Labuschagne. He then dismissed Kyle Verreynne lbw for 13 and, three balls later, held a simple return catch as Jansen fell for a duck. The Australia skipper ended the innings with his 300th Test wicket, Rabada well caught low down at deep square leg by Beau Webster.
The Advertiser
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Piastri-Norris boilover 'inevitable' in F1 title hunt
Lando Norris knows it's only a matter of time before his brewing rivalry with Oscar Piastri reaches boiling point. Piastri heads the Formula One championship by 10 points over teammate Norris after leading the third McLaren one-two finish this season with a flawless race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Australia's Piastri is in career-best form ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, shooting into title contention after banking five race wins. Meanwhile, Norris - long viewed as McLaren's No.1 driver - has taken just two wins. Well aware that his biggest competition is on the other side of the garage, Norris concedes an on-track confrontation is inevitable as the season progresses. "We never said we're going to avoid everything," Norris said. "We've actually been quite open in saying at some point something is probably going to happen. We just have to be ready for that. "Everything is in the open, everything is obvious, everything is known between us. 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Piastri, managed by fellow Aussie Webber, conceded that Norris poses a larger threat than reigning four-time champion Verstappen. Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen has won two races and is 39 points behind the McLaren pair. "Lando is the main opponent, but I'm not going to rule out Max," Piastri said. "The gap is obviously a bit bigger now, but it's not insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination. "We're going to keep pushing to try and make our car even faster, make myself even faster, but yeah, I think the main opponent, let's say, is Lando." Piastri is keeping a lid on the championship hype after joining Hamilton and Ayrton Senna in holding eight consecutive podiums. The 24-year-old has only missed the podium once this season - his home race in Melbourne. "I mostly blank it out. I know exactly why I'm here. It's to try and win a championship," Piastri said. "I think all the other stats that go along with that - yeah, OK, they're cool. "The coolest one by far is putting myself in the list of world champions." Lando Norris knows it's only a matter of time before his brewing rivalry with Oscar Piastri reaches boiling point. Piastri heads the Formula One championship by 10 points over teammate Norris after leading the third McLaren one-two finish this season with a flawless race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Australia's Piastri is in career-best form ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, shooting into title contention after banking five race wins. Meanwhile, Norris - long viewed as McLaren's No.1 driver - has taken just two wins. Well aware that his biggest competition is on the other side of the garage, Norris concedes an on-track confrontation is inevitable as the season progresses. "We never said we're going to avoid everything," Norris said. "We've actually been quite open in saying at some point something is probably going to happen. We just have to be ready for that. "Everything is in the open, everything is obvious, everything is known between us. "We both want to win, we both want to beat each other, but at the end of the day there can only be one person, and that will be whoever performs the best over the course of the year. "I think Andrea (Stella, McLaren team principal) said it, it's not an 'if', it's a 'when' and we'll see when that time comes. "We'll try and avoid everything as much as possible, but it's inevitable that it happens in racing." Piastri and Norris wouldn't be the first F1 teammates to come to blows on the track. In 2018 former Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo was involved in a high-speed crash with a then-young upshot Max Verstappen. The two had banged wheels multiple times on the Baku City Circuit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, before Ricciardo eventually ran up the back of Verstappen at the end of the main straight. Lewis Hamilton also had numerous volatile confrontations with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, with Sebastien Vettel also locking horns with Mark Webber at Red Bull. Piastri, managed by fellow Aussie Webber, conceded that Norris poses a larger threat than reigning four-time champion Verstappen. Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen has won two races and is 39 points behind the McLaren pair. "Lando is the main opponent, but I'm not going to rule out Max," Piastri said. "The gap is obviously a bit bigger now, but it's not insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination. "We're going to keep pushing to try and make our car even faster, make myself even faster, but yeah, I think the main opponent, let's say, is Lando." Piastri is keeping a lid on the championship hype after joining Hamilton and Ayrton Senna in holding eight consecutive podiums. The 24-year-old has only missed the podium once this season - his home race in Melbourne. "I mostly blank it out. I know exactly why I'm here. It's to try and win a championship," Piastri said. "I think all the other stats that go along with that - yeah, OK, they're cool. "The coolest one by far is putting myself in the list of world champions." Lando Norris knows it's only a matter of time before his brewing rivalry with Oscar Piastri reaches boiling point. Piastri heads the Formula One championship by 10 points over teammate Norris after leading the third McLaren one-two finish this season with a flawless race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Australia's Piastri is in career-best form ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, shooting into title contention after banking five race wins. Meanwhile, Norris - long viewed as McLaren's No.1 driver - has taken just two wins. Well aware that his biggest competition is on the other side of the garage, Norris concedes an on-track confrontation is inevitable as the season progresses. "We never said we're going to avoid everything," Norris said. "We've actually been quite open in saying at some point something is probably going to happen. We just have to be ready for that. "Everything is in the open, everything is obvious, everything is known between us. "We both want to win, we both want to beat each other, but at the end of the day there can only be one person, and that will be whoever performs the best over the course of the year. "I think Andrea (Stella, McLaren team principal) said it, it's not an 'if', it's a 'when' and we'll see when that time comes. "We'll try and avoid everything as much as possible, but it's inevitable that it happens in racing." Piastri and Norris wouldn't be the first F1 teammates to come to blows on the track. In 2018 former Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo was involved in a high-speed crash with a then-young upshot Max Verstappen. The two had banged wheels multiple times on the Baku City Circuit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, before Ricciardo eventually ran up the back of Verstappen at the end of the main straight. Lewis Hamilton also had numerous volatile confrontations with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, with Sebastien Vettel also locking horns with Mark Webber at Red Bull. Piastri, managed by fellow Aussie Webber, conceded that Norris poses a larger threat than reigning four-time champion Verstappen. Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen has won two races and is 39 points behind the McLaren pair. "Lando is the main opponent, but I'm not going to rule out Max," Piastri said. "The gap is obviously a bit bigger now, but it's not insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination. "We're going to keep pushing to try and make our car even faster, make myself even faster, but yeah, I think the main opponent, let's say, is Lando." Piastri is keeping a lid on the championship hype after joining Hamilton and Ayrton Senna in holding eight consecutive podiums. The 24-year-old has only missed the podium once this season - his home race in Melbourne. "I mostly blank it out. I know exactly why I'm here. It's to try and win a championship," Piastri said. "I think all the other stats that go along with that - yeah, OK, they're cool. "The coolest one by far is putting myself in the list of world champions." Lando Norris knows it's only a matter of time before his brewing rivalry with Oscar Piastri reaches boiling point. Piastri heads the Formula One championship by 10 points over teammate Norris after leading the third McLaren one-two finish this season with a flawless race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Australia's Piastri is in career-best form ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, shooting into title contention after banking five race wins. Meanwhile, Norris - long viewed as McLaren's No.1 driver - has taken just two wins. Well aware that his biggest competition is on the other side of the garage, Norris concedes an on-track confrontation is inevitable as the season progresses. "We never said we're going to avoid everything," Norris said. "We've actually been quite open in saying at some point something is probably going to happen. We just have to be ready for that. "Everything is in the open, everything is obvious, everything is known between us. "We both want to win, we both want to beat each other, but at the end of the day there can only be one person, and that will be whoever performs the best over the course of the year. "I think Andrea (Stella, McLaren team principal) said it, it's not an 'if', it's a 'when' and we'll see when that time comes. "We'll try and avoid everything as much as possible, but it's inevitable that it happens in racing." Piastri and Norris wouldn't be the first F1 teammates to come to blows on the track. In 2018 former Australian racer Daniel Ricciardo was involved in a high-speed crash with a then-young upshot Max Verstappen. The two had banged wheels multiple times on the Baku City Circuit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, before Ricciardo eventually ran up the back of Verstappen at the end of the main straight. Lewis Hamilton also had numerous volatile confrontations with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, with Sebastien Vettel also locking horns with Mark Webber at Red Bull. Piastri, managed by fellow Aussie Webber, conceded that Norris poses a larger threat than reigning four-time champion Verstappen. Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen has won two races and is 39 points behind the McLaren pair. "Lando is the main opponent, but I'm not going to rule out Max," Piastri said. "The gap is obviously a bit bigger now, but it's not insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination. "We're going to keep pushing to try and make our car even faster, make myself even faster, but yeah, I think the main opponent, let's say, is Lando." Piastri is keeping a lid on the championship hype after joining Hamilton and Ayrton Senna in holding eight consecutive podiums. The 24-year-old has only missed the podium once this season - his home race in Melbourne. "I mostly blank it out. I know exactly why I'm here. It's to try and win a championship," Piastri said. "I think all the other stats that go along with that - yeah, OK, they're cool. "The coolest one by far is putting myself in the list of world champions."
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Newcastle preview: Elegant Empress poised to bounce back
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Warwick Farm trainer Jarrod Austin is banking on a drop back in grade and distance to help deliver a confidence boosting win for his handy mare Elegant Empress. The five-year-old resumed with a safely held third behind Photograph at Canterbury and followed up with a fifth behind Apex at her home track after being forced to race wide when the leader Struck Gold stayed two or three horses wide throughout. 'We could have opted to go to softer races in her first couple of runs but I know her first couple of runs up are there among the best of her preparation,' said Austin. 'We elected to run her in town hoping to get that city win with her. 'We have just missed a couple of times now. She ran second at Warwick Farm first-up last preparation to World Alliance and this time around, she ran third at Canterbury on a heavy track. 'I though that was an excellent run. 'I thought her last run was excellent too after coving ground. They were just a bit too good for her on the day.' Elegant Empress comes down from Benchmark 72 races in town to the Cambridge Classic Benchmark 64 Handicap and is also dropping back from 1100m to 900m. 'She has never been over 900 metres, she only raced over 1000 and 1100 metres,' he said. 'I definitely think she will appreciate the 900 metres more than the 1100 metres. It's just a touch too far for her, especially against that quality of opposition in town. 'Plus dropping to the provincials will definitely help her.' Austin is also looking forward to seeing Jewel County back at the races following a setback after her debut run. The three-year-old filly made her debut at Newcastle on April 23 when fourth behind Mignonette. 'I thought she ran really well first-up,' Austin said. 'She had a little setback between runs and we had to give her a couple of weeks off to get over that. 'I was really encouraged by her first-up run and I thought her trial was nice at Rosehill last week.' Jewel County returns in the Air Control Australia Midway 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m) where she has drawn the outside in barrier 8. 'She is bred to get over a lot further than the 1250 metres she raced over first-up. She actually bred to get a lot further than the 1400 metres this weekend,' he said. 'She will be better when we can step her up to a mile and even further but I think she finds the right race here to kick off again. 'I think she's a great chance. Jewel County hails from one of the great families in the Australian and New Zealand Studbooks. Not only is she by French Derby and English and Irish Champion Stakes winner Almanzor, himself a son of boom sire Wootton Bassett, she is from a sister to Don Eduardo and Peruzzi and a three-quarter sister to Tristalove and Antwerp. Austin, meanwhile, reported that his stable star Terra Mater has come through her first-up run well in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Eagle Farm where she finished midfield behind Zaszou. 'I was happy with her run. She put herself into the race from an awkward gate,' he said. 'She hit the front at the top of the straight and for a few strides, I thought she was going to make a real race of it but her condition just gave out late. 'She will more than likely head back to Queensland for the (Listed) Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich on Saturday week.'
