Australia drop struggling Labuschagne for first West Indies Test

Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
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."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:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

13 minutes ago

• Hans India

Australia Opt for Fresh Faces as Smith Suffers Injury, Labuschagne Misses Out

Australia cricket squad changes News: Australia is set to announce an overhauled batting lineup for the forthcoming first Test with the West Indies in Barbados next week after Australia exempted Steve Smith due to injury concerns. Labuschagne dropped Australia was omitted due to his lackluster performances of late. Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas will be part of the Test that begins on June 25, the beginning of the 2027 World Test Championship journey for both teams. The full Australian team and the order of batting will be announced prior to the first delivery. Steve Smith has been ruled out of Steve Smith's participation in the World Test Championship Final due to Steve Smith injury update to his finger. However, recent reports suggest Smith could be able to play enough to play his second test in Grenada which is scheduled to start on July 3rd. After two years of struggle to find the best form in Test cricket Labuschagne was appointed to start the innings during the Lord's Final, but managed just 17 and 22 runs during Australia's loss in the final to South Africa. On Friday morning the Selectors Chair George Bailey confirmed the squad changes. 'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and see how he is then,' Bailey said. "Josh and Sam have been selected in the team to replace Steve and Marnus," McGrath said. "It's a fantastic opportunity for them to take the next step in their Test careers and we're looking forward to seeing them rise to the challenge." Konstas has impressed in his first couple of Tests, earning plaudits for matching up with world No.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah and also scoring a half-century on Boxing Day in Melbourne, while Inglis scored a Test hundred on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. As the pair is in the mix in the Australia team selection 2025, Bailey threw his support for Labuschagne who remains in the team even though he was unable to make the team 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He knows his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, wants.

News18

17 minutes ago

• News18

IND vs ENG, Leeds Weather Live Updates: Will Rain Hinder Shubman Gill's Captaincy Debut?

India vs England, Leeds Weather Today Live Updates: Hello and a very warm welcome to News18 CricketNext's weather coverage of the first Test between India and England at Headingley. First days are always crucial in England, and this one is particularly important. It's not just the inauguration of the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy but also the start of a new era of Indian cricket, under the 25-year-old Shubman Gill. For England, too, it's a high-stakes moment with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum hoping to kick off the third World Test Championship cycle on a winning note to build towards a first final. But England has seen several such moments get washed out by rain. What about today? According to the chances of rain for the three sessions are quite low, almost negligible. However, the fun of playing cricket in England is that the weather here is quite fragile — it's randomly sunny and suddenly overcast, which tends to affect how the ball behaves. We'll keep you updated about all the happenings here!

Time of India

22 minutes ago

• Time of India

IND vs ENG Live Score, 1st Test Match: India take on England in Leeds; all eyes on new skipper Shubman Gill

India vs England Live Score, 1st Test Match: The cricketing spotlight returns to Headingley, Leeds, where India and England gear up for a high-voltage Test series amid sweltering early summer conditions. The series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle for both teams — one that comes with contrasting narratives. For India, it's the dawn of a fresh era under 25-year-old Shubman Gill, who takes over the Test captaincy in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. For England, it's another chance to showcase the effectiveness of their fearless 'Bazball' approach. The greenish tinge on the pitch, combined with the overhead sun, makes for a tantalising contest, especially for the pacers. Historically, the Headingley surface has favoured seamers, and locals suggest it might carry 10–12 mm of grass. Despite the challenge, India famously won here in 2002 after bravely batting first — a decision that paid off with help from legends like Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly. Today, India's batting line-up looks youthful and untested. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely open, with Sai Sudharsan a probable debutant at No. 3. Gill and Pant hold the middle order together, while Karun Nair's form makes him a strong candidate at No. 6. The choice between all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy adds another layer of selection intrigue. India's biggest weapon, though, is its pace attack — spearheaded by the returning Jasprit Bumrah and supported by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. With England's bowling lineup lacking the bite of past stalwarts like Anderson and Broad, this could be a rare occasion where India holds the edge in the pace department. As the teams prepare to lock horns, all eyes are on how India's next generation handles England's experienced batting and the pressure of one of Test cricket's toughest assignments. India Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav England Squad: Ben Stokes (C), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes IND vs ENG Test Series Schedule: 1st Test: England v India, 20-24 June 2025, Headingley, Leeds 2nd Test: England v India, 2-6 July 2025, Edgbaston, Birmingham 3rd Test: England v India, 10-14 July 2025, Lord's, London 4th Test: England v India, 23-27 July 2025, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 5th Test: England v India, 31 July-4 August 2025, Kia Oval, London