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New Indian Express
5 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.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
WI vs AUS: Labuschagne dropped, Smith ruled out due to injury for first Test 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 Test against 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 (WTC) final loss to South Africa last weekend at Lord's. He is expected to be fit for the second Test against West Indies. Chief selector George Bailey said teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis would replace Smith and Labuschagne. He said Smith needed more time for a wound to heal and he'd be reassessed after 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. Labuschagne 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 on July 3.
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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
West Indies vs Australia 1st Test: AUS drop Labuschagne; injured Smith out
In a dramatic twist ahead of the series opener against the West Indies, Australia confirmed that Steve Smith will miss the first Test due to a finger injury, while Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped following a prolonged dip in form. Cricket Australia announced on Friday that Smith, who injured his finger during the World Test Championship (WTC) final loss to South Africa at Lord's, will be reassessed next week and is expected to return for the second Test starting July 3. Chief selector George Bailey revealed that 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas and 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will replace Smith and Labuschagne in the squad. "We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers," said Bailey. Konstas, who impressed with a rapid-fire 60 on debut against India last December, brings raw talent and confidence. Inglis, who scored a century on debut in Sri Lanka, also returns to the red-ball setup with momentum. Labuschagne's form slump forces tough call Despite a solid Test average of 46.19 from 104 innings, Labuschagne hasn't scored a century since the 2023 Ashes and failed to cross 26 in his last four outings. Promoted to open in the WTC final, his scores of 17 and 22 did little to silence critics. "He understands his output hasn't been at the level we, or he, expects," said Bailey, confirming ongoing work on Labuschagne's game. Australia's Final XI vs West Indies to Be confirmed closer to match day With the first Test scheduled for next Wednesday, Australia's playing XI remains fluid. However, the selection calls signal a clear shift: this is a team ready to experiment, invest in youth, and recalibrate its red-ball identity under pressure. Australia Test squad vs West Indies: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
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First Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Australia drop Marnus Labuschagne after WTC final failure; Steve Smith ruled out of first Test against West Indies
Australian head selector George Bailey said Labuschagne's Test career could be revived if he could rediscover the form that took him to the top of the world batting rankings in 2023. read more Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from Australian Test after a gap of six years. Image: Reuters Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne for next week's first Test against West Indies in Barbados with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis coming into the batting line-up for the erstwhile opener and Steve Smith, who is injured. Labuschagne opened the batting in the World Test Championship final, contributing scores of 17 and 22 to Australia's cause as the defending champions lost to South Africa by five wickets. Labuschagne dropped due to poor form Smith dislocated his finger while fielding at Lord's, leaving a vacancy at the top of the batting order for the first match in the three-Test series in the Caribbean. 'Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we'll give him another week's rest and assess his functionality after that,' head selector George Bailey said in a Cricket Australia statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus. We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers.' Both Konstas and Inglis have played two Tests, the former opening the batting against India in Melbourne and Sydney last season and the latter batting in the middle order in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Bailey said Labuschagne's Test career could be revived if he could rediscover the form that took him to the top of the world batting rankings in 2023. '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,' he said. '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.' The batting order for the first Test, which starts next Wednesday, will be determined closer to the game, Cricket Australia said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Australia also face West Indies in Tests in Grenada and Jamaica on the tour.
News18
8 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Tim Paine To Coach AUS A, 12 Players To Vist Chennai For Sub-Continent Challenge
Last Updated: Tim Paine has advanced in his coaching career, joining Cricket Australia as a consultant for the Australia 'A' team and women's first team. Former Australia captain Tim Paine has made further steps forward in his coaching career. According to ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Australia (CA) has hired him in a 'consultancy' where he'll work with the Australia 'A' team and the women's first team, while coaching Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League on the side. The report said Paine's new stint will begin with leading the Australia 'A' team in three 50-over matches and two four-day games against Sri Lanka 'A' in July. He'll then lead Australia 'A' on a tour of India in September and October before coaching them for a one-off four-day game against the England Lions. Paine has previously worked with multiple development teams in Australia, including as an assistant coach under CA's national development coach Lachlan Stevens when India 'A' played two first-class games in the lead-up to the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year. The report said Stevens has left his job. In Sri Lanka, Paine will be assisted by national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, national women's team assistant coach Scott Prestwidge and Northern Territory Cricket's Pathway and Development coach Trent Keep. Ben Oliver, CA Executive General Manager National Teams, said: 'We're looking forward to Tim stepping into the Australia A head coach role this season and building on his involvement in national programs from the past two years. Tim is passionate about supporting the next tier of future Australian players and brings a wealth of contemporary playing and coaching experience to the role." Meanwhile, the National Selection Panel (NSP) has also chosen 12 men's players to visit the MRF Academy in Chennai from 31 July-13 August. The visit is focused on emerging batters, wicketkeepers and spin bowlers that the Panel feels could benefit from exposure to sub-continent conditions. Cricket Australia's Senior Program Manager (men's cricket) Brian McFadyen will travel as tour manager alongside Australia U19s and New South Wales coach Anthony Clark, South Australia batting coach Stephen Stubbings and Cricket Queensland Academy coach Greg Moller. 'We're pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with the MRF Academy and provide another group of young players a truly unique experience," Oliver added. 'For several players it will be the first time touring the subcontinent, so this trip will offer an opportunity to gain valuable new experience in testing conditions." Players to attend MRF Academy session in Chennai: Joel Curtis, Harry Dixon, Zanden Jeh, Campbell Kellaway, Angus Lovell, Rafael MacMillan, Ollie Peake, Lloyd Pope, Niv Radhakrishnan, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, and Lachlan Shaw. First Published: June 20, 2025, 10:09 IST
