Latest news with #BoxingDay
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Australia drops Marnus Labuschagne, Smith out injured for cricket test series opener in the West Indies
BRIDGETOWN: Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and injured Steve Smith has been ruled out of the Australia lineup for next week's series-opening cricket test against the West Indies. Cricket Australia on Friday said Smith would miss the opening match of the three-test seies because of a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second test against the West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after an another week. "We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus," Bailey said. "We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling test careers." The 19-year-old Konstas has only played two tests, bursting onto the scene with an almost run-a-ball 60 against India in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last December.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Sport
- 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.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
WI vs AUS first Test: Australia drops Marnus Labuschagne, Smith out injured against West Indies
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and injured Steve Smith has been ruled out of the Australia lineup for next week's series-opening cricket Test against the West Indies. Cricket Australia on Friday (June 20, 2025) said Smith would miss the opening match of the three-Test series because of a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second Test against the West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after an another week. "We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus," Bailey said. "We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling test careers." The 19-year-old Konstas has only played two tests, bursting onto the scene with an almost run-a-ball 60 against India in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last December. The 30-year-old Inglis has played mostly short-form cricket for Australia, playing his only two Test matches to date in the series win in Sri Lanka in February, where he scored a century on debut. "In his only opportunity in test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition," Bailey said. Labuschange averages 46.19 in 104 test innings, including 11 centuries and 23 half-centuries, but has struggled for form in recent series. He hasn't scored a Test hundred since the 2023 Ashes series in Manchester and hasn't scored above 26 in his most recent four Test matches. Moved up to open in the WTC final against South Africa, he got starts but was out for 17 and 22. "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," Bailey said. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover." The batting order and starting XI will be determined closer to the start of the test next Wednedsay. The second test is scheduled to start July 3.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith out injured for Test series opener vs West Indies
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and injured Steve Smith has been ruled out of the Australia lineup for next week's series-opening cricket Test against the West Indies. Cricket Australia on Friday said Smith would miss the opening match of the three-Test series because of a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second Test against the West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after an another week. "We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus," Bailey said. "We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling test careers." The 19-year-old Konstas has only played two tests, bursting onto the scene with an almost run-a-ball 60 against India in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last December. The 30-year-old Inglis has played mostly short-form cricket for Australia, playing his only two Test matches to date in the series win in Sri Lanka in February, where he scored a century on debut. "In his only opportunity in test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition," Bailey said. Labuschange averages 46.19 in 104 test innings, including 11 centuries and 23 half-centuries, but has struggled for form in recent series. He hasn't scored a Test hundred since the 2023 Ashes series in Manchester and hasn't scored above 26 in his most recent four Test matches. Moved up to open in the WTC final against South Africa, he got starts but was out for 17 and 22. "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," Bailey said. "We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover." The batting order and starting XI will be determined closer to the start of the test next Wednedsay. The second test is scheduled to start July 3.
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Australia drops Labuschagne, Smith out injured for cricket test series opener in the West Indies
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped and injured Steve Smith has been ruled out of the Australia lineup for next week's series-opening cricket test against the West Indies. Cricket Australia on Friday said Smith would miss the opening match of the three-test seies because of a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second test against the West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after an another week. 'We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus,' Bailey said. 'We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling test careers.' The 19-year-old Konstas has only played two tests, bursting onto the scene with an almost run-a-ball 60 against India in the Boxing Day test in Melbourne last December. The 30-year-old Inglis has played mostly short-form cricket for Australia, playing his only two test matches to date in the series win in Sri Lanka in February, where he scored a century on debut. 'In his only opportunity in test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition,' Bailey said. Labuschange averages 46.19 in 104 test innings, including 11 centuries and 23 half-centuries, but has struggled for form in recent series. He hasn't scored a test hundred since the 2023 Ashes series in Manchester and hasn't scored above 26 in his most recent four test matches. Moved up to open in the WTC final against South Africa, he got starts but was out for 17 and 22. '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,' Bailey said. 'We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover.' The batting order and starting XI will be determined closer to the start of the test next Wednedsay. The second test is scheduled to start July 3. ___ AP cricket:
