Australia announces squad for Test series against West Indies: Labuschagne excluded, Smith not available for opening match
Down Under, the Aussies have shaken up their squad for the three-match Test series against the West Indies, with some notable changes compared to the team selected for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The Aussie mainstay, Marnus Labuschagne, has taken a hit and been cut from the squad. His quiet showings with the bat and a Test century drought stretching back nearly two years have caught up with him. Labuschagne was moved to the opening slot in the WTC final against South Africa, but his numbers remained lackluster - a mere 17 and 22 in his stint at Lord's, which was likely his last chance to prove himself in the side.
"Marnus at his best can be a significant asset for this team. However, his performance hasn't been at the level we expect or he aspires to. We'll continue to work with him on strengthening his areas of concern and believe he can overcome this phase positively," Chair of Selectors, George Bailey, said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Australia's star batter, Steve Smith, will miss the series opener in the Caribbean due to a compound dislocation of his right little finger. The injury occurred during a spectacular catch attempt against South Africa, which didn't pan out as planned. It's a setback for Smith, who has to spend eight weeks wearing a splint.
With Labuschagne and Smith on the sidelines, the young and explosive Sam Konstas gets another chance in the Test arena. Konstas made heads turn during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Josh Inglis also returns to the Test fold as the second replacement. Inglis shone with an impressive century against Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this year.
"We've decided to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to fill the void left by Steve and Marnus. We're excited to see them build upon their fledgling Test careers. During his sole Test appearance, Josh demonstrated great intent and the ability to put pressure on the opposition," Bailey added.
Here's the updated Australian 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 (injury replacement: Scott Boland)- Mitchell Starc- Beau Webster
The West Indies will field the following team:- 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.
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"The absence of Marnus Labuschagne, who has been struggling with a lackluster performance and a Test century drought, opens up opportunity for newcomers in the Australian squad. Josh Inglis, who shone with an impressive century against Sri Lanka, is one such player to watch out for."
"Meanwhile, Steve Smith's injury leaves a void in the batting lineup, and his replacement, Sam Konstas, a promising young player, looks set to make his mark in the Test series against the West Indies."
