Australia have made bold selection calls ahead of the first Test against West Indies, starting June 25 at Kensington Oval, Barbados, with Steve Smith ruled out due to injury and Marnus Labuschagne dropped following a prolonged dip in form.
Smith’s Injury Blow, Labuschagne’s Form Slump
Smith, 36, suffered a dislocated finger during the World Test Championship final against South Africa and will miss the series opener. He is expected to be reassessed ahead of the second Test on July 3.
Labuschagne, once the world’s top-ranked Test batter, has been axed after averaging just 16.16 in 2025, with no centuries since the 2023 Ashes. His twin failures (17 and 22) as an opener in the WTC final sealed his fate.
“Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn’t been at the level we, or he, expects,” said Chief Selector George Bailey.
Konstas and Inglis Get the Nod
Replacing the duo are 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, both of whom impressed on debut earlier this year. Konstas is expected to open alongside Usman Khawaja, while Cameron Green moves to No. 3.
“We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers,” Bailey added.
Australia’s Probable XI for 1st Test vs West Indies
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Cameron Green
- Josh Inglis
- Travis Head
- Beau Webster
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
The match marks the start of a three-Test series and a new World Test Championship cycle for Australia, who are looking to bounce back after losing their WTC crown to South Africa.
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