Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been recalled to the Australian side after Steve Smith was officially ruled out and Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped for the opening match of the three-Test series against the West Indies.
Smith is still in the running to play the second match but the finger injury he suffered in the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa will not heal in time for next Thursday’s clash at Barbados.
Selection panel chief George Bailey said Inglis and Konstas would come into the XI with Labuschagne finally dropped after a lengthy form slump.
The Aussies tried Labuschagne as an opener in the Lord’s loss to the Proteas and he fell cheaply in each innings, leaving the selectors no alternative but to leave him out of the side for the first time since the 2019 Ashes.
“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. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.
“Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we’ll give him another week’s rest and assess his functionality after that.
Steve Smith leaves the field injured during day three of the World Test Championship final. (Photo by Ben Whitley/PA Images via Getty Images)
“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.”
The batting order and final XI will be determined closer to the game.
Konstas is likely to open with Usman Khawaja with Cameron Green at first drop and Josh Inglis setlling in at four or perhaps five if Travis Head is bumped up the order one slot.
For Konstas, his recall comes after he was left out of the team for Sri Lanka, following the teenager’s high-profile start to Test life with a half-century on debut on Boxing Day against India.
Selectors opted to go with Head at the top of the order in Galle, given their preference to have him open on spinning wickets.
But that move was only ever temporary, leaving the opening spot free for Labuschagne at Lord’s last week and now seemingly Konstas in the West Indies.
Inglis also impressed with a century on debut in Galle in January, before being squeezed out of the side for the Test Championship final.
“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.
Sam Konstas bats. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“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.”
The decision to drop the 30-year-old Labuschagne comes after former coach Justin Langer urged officials to keep him in the side this week, with his experience valuable.
Usman Khawaja is aged 38 and Smith 36, meaning a transition in the top order looms after David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket last year.
“He’s actually a very, very important link in this chain,” Langer said on Monday.
“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).”
with AAP