Marnus Labuschagne is fighting to retain his spot for the Ashes series in Australia later this year Australia have dropped Marnus Labuschagne for their opening Test against the West Indies with Steve Smith also missing through injury. In their places, teenage opener Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis come in for the series opener in Barbados, which starts on 25 June. Labuschagne opened the batting for Australia in their World Test Championship final defeat by South Africa last week but finished with scores of 17 and 22 to continue his lean spell. The 30-year-old has not made a Test hundred since the fourth Ashes Test of 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," said selection chair George Bailey. "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, dislocated his right little finger on day three of the final at Lord's. Though he has avoided surgery and travelled to the Caribbean, he must wear a splint for up to eight weeks but could return for the second Test in Grenada in July. "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."
Australia drop Labuschagne for first West Indies Test
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"Australia Excludes Labuschagne and Smith from First Test Against West Indies"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped from the Australian cricket team for their opening Test against the West Indies, set to commence on June 25 in Barbados. This decision comes on the heels of Labuschagne's underwhelming performance in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, where he scored only 17 and 22 runs. His struggles with form are evident, as he has not registered a Test century since the fourth Ashes Test of 2023. George Bailey, the selection chair, acknowledged Labuschagne's potential and importance to the team but noted that his recent output has not met expectations. Bailey expressed a commitment to help Labuschagne work through his challenges, emphasizing the team's continued belief in his skills and the need for him to regain his form ahead of the crucial Ashes series later this year.
In addition to Labuschagne's omission, Steve Smith will also miss the first Test due to a dislocated right little finger sustained during the World Test Championship final. Although Smith has avoided surgery, he will need to wear a splint for up to eight weeks. The team is optimistic that he could return for the second Test in Grenada in July, depending on the healing process. In their absence, teenage opener Sam Konstas and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis have been selected to make their Test debuts. Bailey expressed excitement about giving these young players an opportunity to showcase their talents, particularly highlighting Inglis's impressive performance during his previous outing in Sri Lanka, where he demonstrated a strong ability to challenge the opposition. This marks a pivotal moment for both Labuschagne and Smith, as they look to regain their places in the team while the newcomers aim to establish themselves in the Australian cricket landscape.
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