Latest news with #SteveSmith
The Independent
43 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Australia star dropped in test squad shake-up
Australia has dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the first Test against West Indies in Barbados. Steve Smith will also miss the match due to a dislocated finger sustained while fielding at Lord's. Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been brought into the batting line-up to replace Labuschagne and Smith. Labuschagne had recently opened the batting in the World Test Championship final, contributing scores of 17 and 22. Marnus Labuschagne axed by Australia after World Test Championship final defeat
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Marnus Labuschagne axed by Australia after World Test Championship final defeat
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. 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. "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. Australia also face West Indies in Grenada and Jamaica on the tour.
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Business Standard
4 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
Hans India
4 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.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Champion Proteas will burst straight through every ceiling, insists Ashwell Prince
Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince has worked his magic with the SA unit. Photo: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media THROUGHOUT the Proteas' two-year cycle, including heading into the World Test Championship final, the batting unit came under intense criticism and comparison. Many looked at Australia's batting unit and identified their experience, including that of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head – who are some of the best in the world – and compared that to South Africa's young line-up. There were questions and doubts on the unit's ability to hold their ground against a strong Australia attack, forgetting the centuries that the batters have scored throughout the cycle, be it here at home in South Africa or away from home. Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince commented on the batters' potential upon arriving in South Africa this week, and told the media that they are yet to reach their ceiling and that the comparison should stop. 'I think as South Africans, we obviously had a generation where you had a batting line-up consisting of Smith, Gibbs, Kallis, AB, Amla, and out of all those names, there are about four or five of them in this Hall of Fame,' Prince stated. 'The dangerous thing from a South African point of view is to compare every young player who comes up in the system to Hall of Famers, because not every batsman can be a Hall of Famer. 'It's really important for people who are working with the young batters to understand that this is actually a good batsman, because if you compare them to Hall of Famers, then everybody is not going to be good enough. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Then you're just going to say, well, 'This guy is not good enough because AB used to do this', or whoever. 'You just got to take one person at a time, identify what they're good at, and like every other player, we all have limitations, and we try and brush up on those limitations.' Mzansi, you showed UP! 🫵🇿🇦💚 Thank you to every South African who came out to OR Tambo this morning to welcome our ICC World Test Championship winners home! Your love, your flags, your voices echoed through the halls. This victory is for YOU!#WTCFinal #ProteasWTCFinal… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 18, 2025 With such a youthful batting group, as a batting coach, Prince had a job to do, and that entailed being able to show the batters their true potential and encouraging them to push through the ceiling many fans around the world have placed on them. 'Something that I shared with the team beforehand, we spoke about the youthful nature of this batting line-up, which means that because they're youthful... They haven't reached their ceiling yet,' said Prince. 'Their ceiling is still coming. 'On top of that, everybody from media, spectators in the ground, people watching the game around the world, any person who watches games from an advantage point will have an opinion about every individual's ceiling and the team's ceiling. 'And the message is simple from our side: let them believe what they want to believe. 'We burst straight through the ceiling. That was the message. 'We'll burst through whatever they feel the ceiling is, and that's exactly what they did. 'Aiden Markram played an innings any person never thought he was capable of; he burst straight through the top of that.
