Wallabies announced XV to face Fiji, with star Joseph Suaalii set to return from broken jaw
Suaalii has been sidelined since mid-May when he broke his jaw playing for New South Wales against Queensland but the 21-year-old NRL convert has made a quick recovery and been named for the Wallabies at outside centre.
His return will come as a massive boost to an Australian side, already weakened by the absence of several senior players, including two-time John Eales medallist Rob Valetini, halfback Jake Gordon and giant lock Will Skelton, who captained the Wallabies at the last World Cup.
All three are carrying injuries and hopeful of being fit for the first Test against the Lions, kicking off July 19.
Queensland Reds backrower Harry Wilson retains the captaincy, at least for the match against Fiji, after head coach Joe Schmidt appointed him as skipper last year.
Langi Gleeson replaced Valetini at blindside flanker with Carlo Tizzano named on the bench as the reserve loose forward.
With Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams retained as the starting locks, Tom Hooper comes into the side as the backup second row in the absence of Skelton.
Livewire Queensland halfback Tate McDermott will feed the scrum with Nic White on the bench.
Elsewhere, electric winger Max Jorgensen returned from an ankle injury to earn a spot in the starting side in the left wing, with Harry Potter on the other side.
Former skipper Dave Porecki was named as the starting hooker in his first match in the gold jersey since the World Cup.
The biggest surprise was the selection of veteran prop James Slipper as the starting loose-head.
Angus Bell has been the preferred starter because he's such a powerful ball runner but will come off the bench against Fiji.
Despite the injuries, Schmidt said his reshuffled side had gelled well ahead of what is expected to be a highly physical clash with the Pacific Islanders.
'The whole squad has worked hard on and off the field and reconnected well with a short runway from our assembly through to the Test on Sunday against Fiji.'
'I think the players and the wider management are keen to get underway, especially in front of a big crowd here in Newcastle, as we kick off an exciting but incredibly demanding 2025 Test match schedule.'
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"Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing on to his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Konstas was given support by veteran quick Josh Hazlewood. "You're here for a reason," Hazlewood told reporters when asked what advice he would give Konstas. "You're in this position because you're a good player. "Every time I've bowled to him in the last couple of months he keeps getting better and better. "He's a quick learner, absorbs everything. "Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing on to his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Konstas was given support by veteran quick Josh Hazlewood. "You're here for a reason," Hazlewood told reporters when asked what advice he would give Konstas. "You're in this position because you're a good player. "Every time I've bowled to him in the last couple of months he keeps getting better and better. "He's a quick learner, absorbs everything. "Got thrown into a tough situation there ... but he's heading in the right direction. "We saw there late at night, that's the toughest time to bat with a new ball." Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph (29) and Alzarri Joseph (27) helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review.
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Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing onto his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Josh Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat-pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow-through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. West Indies currently trail by 45 runs and are yet to bat in the second innings.
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Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja's fledgling opening partnership is on shaky ground after Australia's openers were again dismissed cheaply against the West Indies. Australia slumped to 2-12 at stumps on day two of the second Test in Grenada, leading by just 45 after bowling the Windies out for 253. Konstas was left shattered after he was out for a duck, playing onto his stumps from a Jayden Seales delivery. The 19-year-old, in just his fourth Test, looked better in the first innings with 25, after scores of 3 and 5 during the opening match of the series in Barbados. Australia were left reeling at 2-4 when Khawaja, 19 years Konstas's senior, was trapped lbw by Seales. The veteran left-hander was again exposed by a right-arm quick coming around the wicket. Nathan Lyon was sent out as nightwatchman, still with 18 minutes until stumps, but was able to navigate the tricky period with Cameron Green. Replying to the Aussies' 286, West Indies limped to tea on day two on 7-185. But some crucial lower-order runs from Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph helped the hosts cut Australia's lead to just 33 when they were dismissed for 253. Australia's legendary bowling attack shared the wickets around, with Lyon (3-75) leading the way. Josh Hazlewood (2-43) and Pat Cummins (2-46) were typically dangerous, while Travis Head's part-time off-spin was successfully used to find the 10th wicket to wrap up the innings. When opener Kraigg Brathwaite fell without scoring off the 11th ball of the day, caught and bowled by Hazlewood, it was just the tonic the tourists needed. And when Keacy Carty was dismissed by Cummins for six in the ninth over, the Aussie attack looked in the mood to inflict serious damage. It was, indeed, a magnificent moment for the Australian captain, the ball hanging in the air for a seeming eternity before it began to fall to where a bat-pad would have been. Cummins made ground in his follow-through and timed his dive perfectly to complete the catch. It got even better when John Campbell, the other opener, was sent back to the pavilion, caught by Mitchell Starc off Beau Webster after a brisk 40 that included five boundaries. Left-hander Campbell tried to loft over the leg side but could only lob the ball high into the air and straight down the throat of Starc at mid-on. The West Indies stood on a fragile-looking 3-64. But then the home side steadied, losing no more wickets before reaching lunch on 3-110. Brandon King (39) and Roston Chase (16) steadied the West Indies with a 46-run fourth-wicket stand. Just one more run had been added when Chase fell lbw to Hazlewood. Cummins removed Shai Hope to leave West Indies on 5-169, and the home side were faltering again when King's defiance was ended four balls later, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Nathan Lyon and given after a review. West Indies currently trail by 45 runs and are yet to bat in the second innings.
