Australia have three options for Test opening spot

The Advertiser

13-05-2025

Josh Inglis has emerged as a contender to open with Usman Khawaja in Australia's bid for consecutive World Test Championship crowns.
Australia are weighing up three genuine partnerships at the top for the WTC final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11.
Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Konstas are all in the mix.
After missing out on selection for both Tests in Sri Lanka, whiz kid Konstas has been named in the 15-man squad.
Travis Head was preferred as Usman Khawaja's opening partner for that successful tour, but the reigning Allan Border Medallist will slot back into No.5 for the WTC final.
Konstas produced an eye-catching Test debut on Boxing Day, taking it up to Indian maestro Jasprit Bumrah.
The selection dilemma is more complicated because Cameron Green is in line to play his first Test in more than a year.
The towering allrounder has returned via county cricket, after recovering from back surgery, but is only in contention as a batter.
Labuschagne, who has been below his best for more than two years, is an option to open with Khawaja.
That would mean Steve Smith, who has recaptured his best form, could move up to No.3, then Green bats at No.4.
In Green's most recent Test back in March 2024, the West Australian batted at No.4, while Smith opened.
But Inglis, who starred at No.5 with a century on debut in Sri Lanka, is also being considered.
Before settling on Nathan McSweeney for the start of the Border-Gavaskar series, chairman of selectors George Bailey emphatically put a line through Inglis's opening prospects.
But Bailey now thinks Inglis could do the job.
"I've said the same about Marnus," Bailey said on Tuesday.
"I do think it's a role that more people could do.
"I know there is a prevailing thought it is a specialised role.
"In certain conditions there's opportunities at different times that guys could do it, whether that's England for Josh, or whether it's in that middle order where he's had success already."
Since David Warner retired following the New Year's Test in January 2024, Australia have used four different openers - Smith, McSweeney, Konstas and Head - across 11 matches.
Star quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both missed the tour of Sri Lanka, but have been firing in the Indian Premier League.
Hazlewood, who has the third most wickets during this IPL, did miss his last match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to a shoulder injury.
Australia will stick with the same squad for the three-Test tour of the West Indies that follows the WTC final.
Matt Kuhnemann will almost certainly not feature against South Africa, but the left-arm spinner looms as a key option in the Caribbean against Sri Lanka with 16 wickets across two Tests.
AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Scott Boland.
Josh Inglis has emerged as a contender to open with Usman Khawaja in Australia's bid for consecutive World Test Championship crowns.
Australia are weighing up three genuine partnerships at the top for the WTC final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11.
Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Konstas are all in the mix.
After missing out on selection for both Tests in Sri Lanka, whiz kid Konstas has been named in the 15-man squad.
Travis Head was preferred as Usman Khawaja's opening partner for that successful tour, but the reigning Allan Border Medallist will slot back into No.5 for the WTC final.
Konstas produced an eye-catching Test debut on Boxing Day, taking it up to Indian maestro Jasprit Bumrah.
The selection dilemma is more complicated because Cameron Green is in line to play his first Test in more than a year.
The towering allrounder has returned via county cricket, after recovering from back surgery, but is only in contention as a batter.
Labuschagne, who has been below his best for more than two years, is an option to open with Khawaja.
That would mean Steve Smith, who has recaptured his best form, could move up to No.3, then Green bats at No.4.
In Green's most recent Test back in March 2024, the West Australian batted at No.4, while Smith opened.
But Inglis, who starred at No.5 with a century on debut in Sri Lanka, is also being considered.
Before settling on Nathan McSweeney for the start of the Border-Gavaskar series, chairman of selectors George Bailey emphatically put a line through Inglis's opening prospects.
But Bailey now thinks Inglis could do the job.
"I've said the same about Marnus," Bailey said on Tuesday.
"I do think it's a role that more people could do.
"I know there is a prevailing thought it is a specialised role.
"In certain conditions there's opportunities at different times that guys could do it, whether that's England for Josh, or whether it's in that middle order where he's had success already."
Since David Warner retired following the New Year's Test in January 2024, Australia have used four different openers - Smith, McSweeney, Konstas and Head - across 11 matches.
Star quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both missed the tour of Sri Lanka, but have been firing in the Indian Premier League.
Hazlewood, who has the third most wickets during this IPL, did miss his last match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to a shoulder injury.
Australia will stick with the same squad for the three-Test tour of the West Indies that follows the WTC final.
Matt Kuhnemann will almost certainly not feature against South Africa, but the left-arm spinner looms as a key option in the Caribbean against Sri Lanka with 16 wickets across two Tests.
AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Scott Boland.
Josh Inglis has emerged as a contender to open with Usman Khawaja in Australia's bid for consecutive World Test Championship crowns.
Australia are weighing up three genuine partnerships at the top for the WTC final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11.
Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Konstas are all in the mix.
After missing out on selection for both Tests in Sri Lanka, whiz kid Konstas has been named in the 15-man squad.
Travis Head was preferred as Usman Khawaja's opening partner for that successful tour, but the reigning Allan Border Medallist will slot back into No.5 for the WTC final.
Konstas produced an eye-catching Test debut on Boxing Day, taking it up to Indian maestro Jasprit Bumrah.
The selection dilemma is more complicated because Cameron Green is in line to play his first Test in more than a year.
The towering allrounder has returned via county cricket, after recovering from back surgery, but is only in contention as a batter.
Labuschagne, who has been below his best for more than two years, is an option to open with Khawaja.
That would mean Steve Smith, who has recaptured his best form, could move up to No.3, then Green bats at No.4.
In Green's most recent Test back in March 2024, the West Australian batted at No.4, while Smith opened.
But Inglis, who starred at No.5 with a century on debut in Sri Lanka, is also being considered.
Before settling on Nathan McSweeney for the start of the Border-Gavaskar series, chairman of selectors George Bailey emphatically put a line through Inglis's opening prospects.
But Bailey now thinks Inglis could do the job.
"I've said the same about Marnus," Bailey said on Tuesday.
"I do think it's a role that more people could do.
"I know there is a prevailing thought it is a specialised role.
"In certain conditions there's opportunities at different times that guys could do it, whether that's England for Josh, or whether it's in that middle order where he's had success already."
Since David Warner retired following the New Year's Test in January 2024, Australia have used four different openers - Smith, McSweeney, Konstas and Head - across 11 matches.
Star quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both missed the tour of Sri Lanka, but have been firing in the Indian Premier League.
Hazlewood, who has the third most wickets during this IPL, did miss his last match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru due to a shoulder injury.
Australia will stick with the same squad for the three-Test tour of the West Indies that follows the WTC final.
Matt Kuhnemann will almost certainly not feature against South Africa, but the left-arm spinner looms as a key option in the Caribbean against Sri Lanka with 16 wickets across two Tests.
AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Scott Boland.