Star Pacer OUT, New Opener Chosen As Australia Reveal Playing 11 For WTC Final
Marnus Labuschagne is set to open the innings, and Josh Hazlewood has beaten Scott Boland for a place in Australia's now-confirmed playing 11 for the WTC Final vs South Africa.
Pacer Scott Boland has missed out on Australia's 11 for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa, which begins on Wednesday (June 11) at Lord's. Skipper Pat Cummins announced the team, confirming all the expected tweaks in the team, with Josh Hazlewood taking his place back as one of the pace trio, Marnus Labuschagne opening the batting for the first time and Beau Webster picked for the number six spot.
Boland, 36, has once again paid the price for being an excellent, but still the fourth-best, fast bowler in the country. With Josh Hazlewood returning from the side injury that kept him out of the country's last few Tests, Boland has to be content with the bench, despite carrying a stunning Test average of 17.66. Hazlewood will play his first WTC final, having missed out on the defending champions' 2023 win over India at the Oval, too.
'There are some guys where you generally say you've done nothing wrong, don't change a thing, and that's Scott and he's just really unfortunate to miss out," Cummins said at the press conference. 'The message to Scott is there's a lot of Test matches coming up in the next couple of years, and just because you're in your mid-30s doesn't mean you're missing this Test and that's the last Test of your career. I think by having a squad of fast bowlers, hopefully we can extend a lot of careers for an extra couple of years."
Meanwhile, Labuschagne becomes another addition to the Australia Test opening musical chairs. Sam Konstas impressed on debut against India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but was dropped for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. Having already tried Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Nathan McSweeney, and several others in the role, the selectors seemed to have finally zeroed in on a promotion for Labuschagne.
Australia will hope he can come good in the new role and improve on his form (he hasn't scored a Test century since 2023). His jump up top will mean Cameron Green, playing his first Test after undergoing back surgery in the summer, will bat at three. But Green can still only play as a specialist batter and hence, Beau Webster, who can bowl both spin and medium-pace, will take up the all-rounder's role.
Australia's playing 11 for WTC Final against South Africa: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.
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June 10, 2025, 17:53 IST
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