Latest news with #WorldTestChampionshipFinal
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.
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
Int'l Cricket Council
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
New inclusions as Smith injured, Labuschagne dropped for Australia
Australia will feature a new-look batting line-up for the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados next week, with Steve Smith forced out of the side through injury, and an out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne dropped. Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas will come in for the pair for the Test that begins on June 25, the first match for both sides in the World Test Championship 2027 cycle. Steve Smith with a resilient half-century | WTC25 Final Australia talisman Steve Smith helps his side bounce back from early wickets with a fine half-century in the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Smith's finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship Final keeps him out of the team, though there are hopes of a return for the second Test in Grenada from July 3. After a barren two-year run in Test cricket, Labuschagne was moved to up to open in the Lord's Final, though made just 17 and 22 in the defeat to South Africa. Chair of Selectors George Bailey confirmed the news of the changes on Friday morning. '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 began. '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." South Africa beat Australia to seize the Ultimate Test | Full Match Highlights | WTC25 Final Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's. The incoming pair have impressed in their early outings, with Konstas turning heads in taking on World No.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah and compiling a half-century on Boxing Day in Melbourne, and Inglis scoring a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. With the pair given the chance to feature, Bailey also backed Labuschagne who remains a presence in the squad despite making way. '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. '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.' Australia Test squad: 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 West Indies Test squad: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales World Test ChampionshipNews
First Post
a day ago
- Sport
- First Post
WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G WTC Final Pitch: Would India Be Blamed For Such Conditions? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani |N18G The 2025 World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia has become a major talking point, not just for the cricket on display, but for the conditions under which it's being played. With the match heading towards a finish in under four days, questions are being raised about the pitch — or rather, the silence surrounding it. If the same conditions existed in India, there would have been global outrage, debates, and demands to ban venues. But because it's happening in England, cricket pundits have chosen silence. Rupa Ramani examines the glaring double standards in the cricketing world. Is India being held to a different standard when it comes to pitches? See More
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Gayton McKenzie hints at bonuses for Proteas as Temba Bavuma's side arrives home
After ending a 27-year wait to win an International Cricket Council's Test Championship (ICC), the Proteas have only just started to build momentum towards a culture of winning. In a thrilling final against Australia, the Proteas secured a historic victory with a five-wicket win on day four at Lord's in England on Saturday. This was the first senior men's trophy since the 1998 ICC Knockout victory. 'We hope that this can be the start of a lot more of these trophies. As much as we have achieved what we achieved in the past 18 to 24 months, this is not a big legacy as of yet. We will speak again in two to three years. We want to start a culture of winning trophies for the country,' Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said in Johannesburg at a media briefing. The team received an electrifying welcome with jubilation, song and dance from supporters on their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday morning. 'Seeing so many people welcome us at the airport was quite overwhelming. It was different from the last time we came back from the World Cup in 2023. You don't really realise what you have done until you start to interact with people. 'To see the emotion, to hear the things they have got to say; it gives you an insight into what we have done. As a team we are proud that we have been able to achieve something like this, but we are even happier that we have made our people proud,' Bavuma said. This marked South Africa's first-ever appearance in a World Test Championship Final, and their triumphant performance signalled a landmark achievement for the nation's cricketing history. This as Australia, currently ranked number one in the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, entered the final as favourites and defending champions. The Proteas, ranked second, rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable performance, cementing their status as one of the world's elite Test sides. Bavuma expressed how the team's journey has not been an easy one. 'As a team we have our story. It wasn't a simple and easy one. We have overcome a lot and managed to get to where we are. The biggest thing is that we have embraced everything that means to be a South African,' he said. The cricket team hopes this inspires budding cricketers and the nation. 'Similarly to them, in their quest, their journey for what they want to achieve, as long as they keep having that passion, keep pushing against what people think is the unachievable. 'We have been confident enough that we have been playing good cricket. We have been getting ourselves in a position where we can be in finals. Just like with anything, you got to keep going and keep being relentless. 'There was always that belief that at some point the harder we knock on that door, that it was going to happen,' Bavuma said. He said the beauty about international cricket is that there is always more games to play. 'There's the Zimbabwe tournament that leads into the start of the new Test cycle [which] we will be setting our eyes on what we want to achieve over there. There is always something that we are working towards, it's a legacy that we want to achieve [and] and trying to put together as a team. 'The legacy is not done yet. For now, we want to enjoy what this moment has brought to us,' Bavuma said. Cricket South Africa's (CSA) head of national teams, Enoch Nkwe, said this victory will have a huge impact on generations to come. He said this restores a lot of faith and belief in South African cricket. 'We look at this format as a foundation to key fundamentals to other formats and the growth of cricket, not only in South Africa, but globally. What is encouraging is this is going to motivate a 15-year-old. We are going to ensure from behind the scenes that will continue to build these building blocks through this format,' Nkwe said. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the team's win gives the nation hope. 'People should see themselves when they watch our national teams, and that is what we are doing in cricket. They are following in the footsteps of rugby. We are a socially cohesive country [and] a rainbow nation, and you can see this. 'We are the best sporting nation in the world. We have the strongest women and men in the world. We have the fastest runners, the best soccer players, [and] we have the best rugby players and cricket team,' the Minister said. 'You know the difference with this team … Shukri Conrad is the best coach in the world, but one thing he did with this team is make them believe. 'They don't need motivation. We believed they were going to win. Conrad believed they were going to win and they believed they were going to win. It's the recipe for where we are today. 'They say cometh the hour, cometh the man. Temba Bavuma, he rose at the right time. Temba means hope, and he brought hope to the nation.' McKenzie also hailed the team's diversity, drawing comparisons with the Springboks, who are loved by all people from all walks of life in the country. 'People should see themselves when they watch our national teams. White kids must see themselves. Coloured kids must see themselves. Black and Indian kids must see themselves. That is what the Proteas are doing here,' the minister said. 'They are following in the footsteps of the Springboks. We are a socially cohesive country … we are the rainbow nation. A black captain in Temba Bavuma and the children are singing his name, children from all creeds and colours.' McKenzie also hinted that there will be an announcement about bonuses for the team. 'We will talk about that later,' McKenzie said. 'We have got so many winners, all these bonuses can bankrupt the country!' Proteas men's head coach Shukri Conrad also expressed his joy at the warm reception the team received upon their arrival at the airport. 'I am absolutely ecstatic to see people come out in their hundreds. It makes this win even more special. We won a few days ago but it hasn't sunk in. To get a reception like this… it starts to sink in. The guys have been great, but the fans have been better,' Conrad said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
