A century on debut, then dropped. How Inglis is approaching his next shot at Test level
Bridgetown: Josh Inglis says he's drawing confidence from a dream Test debut earlier this year but isn't treating this week's clash against the West Indies as a make-or-break audition to stay in Australia's XI.
Inglis was told by chair of selectors George Bailey last week that he would play the first of three Tests in the Caribbean, with Marnus Labuschagne dropped and Steve Smith sidelined with a finger injury.
As of Monday afternoon local time (Tuesday AEST), Inglis said he hadn't been told where he would bat, but expected to slot in at No. 3, 4 or 5.
'We'll work through that the next few days … and prep accordingly,' said Inglis of his spot in the order. 'I'm very happy to be back in the side.
'I wouldn't say I had a sense [of a recall]. You never really know, but obviously with Smudge [Smith] getting injured there was an opportunity for someone else to come in. Bails [George Bailey] obviously told me towards the start of the week and it's been nice to have that early and prep and make sure I'm ready to go.'
Seldom do players make a hundred on debut and find themselves out of the team two matches later.
That was Inglis' fate after a splendid century on a turning Galle pitch in late January.
Coming in at 3-401, Inglis cracked 102 from 94 balls to become the first Australian male to make a Test century on debut since Adam Voges against the West Indies in 2015.
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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. 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. 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.
