Latest news with #Marnus
India Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
WI vs AUS 1st Test: Marnus Labuschagne dropped, Steve Smith out with injury
Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the opening Test against the West Indies in Barbados, starting on 25 June, while Steve Smith has been ruled out with a finger injury sustained during the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. In a significant shake-up to the batting line-up, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been drafted in to replace the underperforming Labuschagne and the injured who opened the batting in the recent World Test Championship final, managed scores of 17 and 22 in a losing cause against South Africa. His prolonged dip in form-averaging just 16.25 in four Tests this year—has led to his omission from the side."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," Selection chair George Bailey said in a statement. "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, meanwhile, suffered a dislocated finger while fielding at Lord's. Although the former captain has travelled with the squad to the Caribbean, he has been advised to wear a splint for up to eight weeks and will be reassessed ahead of the second Test in 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. "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."Konstas impressed on debut against India in the Boxing Day Test last year and is expected to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. Inglis, who scored a debut century in Sri Lanka earlier this year, is likely to slot into the middle order in Smith's absence. However, Cricket Australia has said the final batting order will be confirmed closer to the first Test in Barbados will be followed by matches in Grenada and Jamaica, with Australia aiming to bounce back strongly after their WTC Final Watch
West Australian
14 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Australia in West Indies: Marnus Labuschagne dropped for first Test but Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis named
Marnus Labuschagne has been axed from Australia's Test team in a sensational move six days out from the first match against the West Indies. Australian selectors have taken the rare step to reveal two changes to the side almost a week before the start of the series. They have confirmed on Friday morning teenage sensation Sam Konstas and West Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will both return to the team for the first Test in Barbados. Steve Smith has been ruled out of the match with his dislocated finger — but is pushing to be available for the rest of the series — while the poor run of form that has plagued Labuschagne for two years has finally caught up to him. Labuschagne has not posted a Test century since the 2023 Ashes series, which was also the last time he averaged more than 30 in a season. He scored 17 and 22 in Australia's World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa last week. 'Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team,' selection chair 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.' A final team for the match — which begins next Wednesday — has not been confirmed, but it is likely Konstas will open the batting and Inglis slots into the middle-order, possibly at Smith's vacant No.4 It will be Konstas' third Test for Australia after lighting up the MCG with his cavalier attack on Jasprit Bumrah on Boxing Day, where he ramped, scooped and slashed his way to a remarkable 60 off 65 balls. Inglis made a century in Galle against Sri Lanka in his only Test. '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. '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. '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.'
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"We Will Get Hurt...": Australia's Ageing Core Given Huge 'Ashes' Warning After WTC Final Debacle
Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy was left displeased over Australia's most experienced players not stepping up in the World Test Championship Final defeat to South Africa, saying that it's bound to be a nightmare when people are limping to the end of their careers. At Lord's, barring Steve Smith and Beau Webster, none of the other batters could score half-centuries, while doubts over future of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have increased. The batting order make-up will become a talking point when Australia play Tests against West Indies, starting on June 26, before hosting England in an all-important Ashes at home later this year. 'If you limp to the end of your career and the last one you're hanging out for it's going to be a nightmare. England are coming and they're coming for us big time. They're picking the right style of bowler, they are looking at batsmen who can prosper in Australian conditions. 'They are going no specific that they are going to be all over us. If you're not all over your energy levels and your techniques, which we're not, we're going to get hurt, and you get hurt in your last series,' said Healy on SEN Radio. Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine felt the top order's form, especially of Khawaja and Labuschagne, is not much of a concern. "They're good players, they're world class. Steve Smith's (finger) injury means he won't play in the Windies first Test so Konstas comes in and Marnus drops back." he said. "We have heard them say when they have the spin pitches Travis Head would slide up and Marnus down. I see them going to the Windies and playing well and getting ready for a huge Ashes series. Usman and Marnus will play really, really important roles in the Ashes. We're very quick in this country to move on players, we always want to see if the grass is greener. 'If we have learnt nothing in the last 18 months, players of that quality are extremely hard to replace. Look at Dave Warner - one of our best cricketers - six months before he retired people said he's got to go (and now) two years down the track we still haven't replaced him. 'You don't just have a bad Test in England and dump people like Uz and Marnus. They are a huge part of the team for the next year at least. With England coming out here, these high quality players don't grow on trees. Great players are hard to replace,' he elaborated. Paine signed off by hoping Smith is fit and available for the second Test in the West Indies after dislocating his finger at Lord's. "It wasn't the bone through the skin, it was a cut. The ball split the skin and he dislocated his finger. The issue is now it's back in place, he is waiting for the cut to heal. It looked at one stage really bad but now if it can heal well he will be right to go for the second Test."
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Hard To...": Ex-Australia Captain Gives Final Verdict On Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne's Future
Former Australian skipper Tim Paine has backed under-fire top-order batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, saying that players like them cannot be "dumped" after one bad Test, and he sees them doing well during the tour of West Indies starting from June 25 onwards. During the WTC final, both Khawaja (0 and 6) and Labuschagne (17 and 20) failed to score big as Australia faced a crushing defeat to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's. Labuschagne was promoted to the opening spot, with Cameron Green taking up the number three spot and Steve Smith batting at four. This new-look top three's failure played a huge role in the Aussies' defeat and has sparked selection debates ahead of the WI tour of three Tests, with teen opener Sam Konstas on the fringes after an outrageous debut fifty against India. While Khawaja's failure was a rare one, as he finished as the side's top run-getter in the WTC cycle 2023-25 with 1,428 runs in 20 matches, along with two tons and six fifties, Marnus' performance in the competition was horrendous, scoring 974 runs in 20 matches with a century and eight fifties at an average of just 27.82, causing his overall batting average to decline to 46.19. Khawaja, at 38, does not have age on his side as during December this year, he will be turning 39 during the home Ashes series. Despite the shambolic performance by the top order, Paine is not disturbed, saying, as quoted by SEN, "They are good players, they are world class. . "Steve Smith's (finger) injury means he would not play in the Windies first Test, so Konstas comes in and Marnus drops back. We have heard them say that when they have the spin pitches, Travis Head would slide up and Marnus down." "I see them going to the Windies and playing well and getting ready for a huge Ashes series. Usman and Marnus will play really, really important roles in the Ashes. We are very quick in this country to move on players, we always want to see if the grass is greener."' Paine said that over the last 18 months, it has been realised that quality players are extremely hard to replace, using the now-retired David Warner as an example. "Look at Dave Warner - one of our best cricketers - six months before he retired, people said he has got to go (and now) two years down the track, we still have not replaced him. You do not just have a bad Test in England and dump people like Uz and Marnus. They are a huge part of the team for the next year at least. With England coming out here, these high-quality players don't grow on trees. Great players are hard to replace," he concluded.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"I Say This With Absolute Respect...": Justin Langer's Candid Opinion On Marnus Labuschagne's Australia Future
Former opener and head coach Justin Langer has advised Australia to retain Marnus Labuschagne in their top-order, saying that omitting him from the side would hinder the development of future Test team batters. Labuschagne's spot has become doubtful after Australia suffered a five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship final. Labuschagne was moved up to open against South Africa, but scores of 17 and 22 meant he ended the two-year cycle with an average of 27.82. "Marnus is a 50-Test player. He's been the best player in the world. He still averages (46.19). All players go through it. If you're not scoring runs, you're going to be under the spotlight. But all of a sudden David Warner leaves. And then Usman Khawaja leaves. And then Steve Smith. "If Marnus isn't playing well, you've got a huge gap there because Travis Head bats down the order. So he's actually a very, very important link in this chain here. If I was the Australian team, I'd be focusing – and I'm sure they are – all their attention on getting Marnus to come good in however that is," said Langer to reporters, on the sidelines of seeing teams prepare for State of Origin rugby league series in Perth. After the WTC final loss, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Labuschagne was still in their plans for the future, though he did mention at what point they stop picking the right-handed batter. "You think about the history of Australian cricket. The best young players come in surrounded by absolute guns. Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Matthew Hayden. They come in and they're around gun players. If you just all of a sudden bring a couple of kids in, Cameron Green's still young to the game. "And you have to bring another kid in there (to replace Labuschagne). Sam Konstas, he played a few Tests, right? I think he's only got two first-class hundreds at the moment. And they were both in the same game. "I say this with absolute respect, but these new guys coming in, they're not averaging 50 (in first-class cricket). These other guys coming through, you've got to be smacking the door down. You can't just bring them in an Ashes series," concluded Langer.
