Australia drop struggling Labuschagne for first West Indies Test
SYDNEY: Australia on Friday dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the opening match of their three-Test tour of the West Indies after a poor run of form while Steve Smith is out injured.
Teenager Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis come into the starting XI for the opening match in Barbados starting on Wednesday.
Labuschagne opened the batting in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last week but managed scores of only 17 and 22 on a challenging Lord's pitch.
His last hundred for Australia in Test matches was in July 2023, against England at Manchester. Since then, Labuschagne has averaged 24.7 with the bat, in 16 matches.
'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team,' chair of selectors George Bailey said.
'He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects.
'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.'
Smith injured his finger while fielding in the slips at Lord's. He left the field and did not return, watching South Africa's winning run chase from the pavilion.
Australia coach McDonald backs stuttering Labuschagne
'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that,' Bailey said.
The 19-year-old Konstas will earn his third cap for Australia, and his first since January.
He made a blistering debut against India in December, blasting 60 from just 65 balls opening the batting and playing a number of audacious scoop shots against Jasprit Bumrah.
Konstas managed only 53 runs in his next three innings, but the teenager's raw talent has selectors excited.
Inglis will also make his third appearance in Test cricket, having made 102 on debut against Sri Lanka in January.
Bailey said the batting order and final team would be determined closer to the first Test.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
South Africa captain Bavuma ruled out of Zimbabwe Test series
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe that starts in Bulawayo on June 28 after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the World Test Championship final win over Australia at Lord's. Bavuma was injured in the second innings of South Africa's five-wicket victory, soldiering on as he scored a crucial 66 in a match-winning third wicket stand of 147 with centurion Aiden Markram. Keshav Maharaj will captain the side in Bavuma's absence, with no replacement named in the squad for the latter. The first Test will be played from June 28-July 2 at the Queens Sports Club, with the second also in Bulawayo from July 6-10. Drugs ban gives Rabada extra motivation for WTC final, says Bavuma Revised South Africa squad: Keshav Maharaj (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi*, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne and Codi Yusuf.
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Business Recorder
England bowl in 1st Test as India's Sudharsan makes debut
LEEDS: England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field in the first Test against India at Headingley on Friday. With the match starting beneath sunny, blue skies and the pitch only showing a tinge of green, conditions appeared good for batting in the opening match of this five-Test series. But Stokes, explaining his decision to bowl first, said: 'Headingley is generally a good cricket wicket, we have had some good games here over the years so we will look to use the early conditions and get a bit out of it (the pitch).' England had already named their side, making two changes to the team that beat Zimbabwe by an innings inside three days at Trent Bridge. Experienced paceman Chris Woakes returns in place of the injured Gus Atkinson and fast bowler Brydon Carse makes his home debut. India gave a Test debut to Sai Sudharsan, listed to come in at number three with new captain Shubman Gill slotting in at number four. India are bidding for just a third Test series win in England following triumphs in 1971, 1986 and 2007, with Gill saying: 'Preparation has been amazing, I think all the boys are feeling in a good space mentally and physically.' Nayeem Hasan takes five wickets to halt Sri Lanka charge in Bangladesh Test This match, the first of five Tests in seven weeks, marks the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship after South Africa beat Australia in last week's final at Lord's. Both teams wore black armbands in memory of the victims of an Air India plane crash in the western city of Ahmedabad that killed all but one of 242 people on board. Teams England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (capt), Rishabh Pant (wkt), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS TV Umpire: Sharfuddoula (BAN) Match Referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
Business Recorder
14 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Australia drop struggling Labuschagne for first West Indies Test
SYDNEY: Australia on Friday dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the opening match of their three-Test tour of the West Indies after a poor run of form while Steve Smith is out injured. Teenager Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis come into the starting XI for the opening match in Barbados starting on Wednesday. Labuschagne opened the batting in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last week but managed scores of only 17 and 22 on a challenging Lord's pitch. His last hundred for Australia in Test matches was in July 2023, against England at Manchester. Since then, Labuschagne has averaged 24.7 with the bat, in 16 matches. 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team,' chair of selectors George Bailey said. 'He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects. 'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.' Smith injured his finger while fielding in the slips at Lord's. He left the field and did not return, watching South Africa's winning run chase from the pavilion. Australia coach McDonald backs stuttering Labuschagne 'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that,' Bailey said. The 19-year-old Konstas will earn his third cap for Australia, and his first since January. He made a blistering debut against India in December, blasting 60 from just 65 balls opening the batting and playing a number of audacious scoop shots against Jasprit Bumrah. Konstas managed only 53 runs in his next three innings, but the teenager's raw talent has selectors excited. Inglis will also make his third appearance in Test cricket, having made 102 on debut against Sri Lanka in January. Bailey said the batting order and final team would be determined closer to the first Test.
