• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Steve Smith Ruled Out Labuschagne Dropped As Australia Reveal Playing Xi For 1St Test Vs Wi

Steve Smith Ruled Out, Labuschagne Dropped As Australia Reveal Playing XI For 1st Test Vs WI

Anurag Dasgupta

Labuschagne dropped by Australia [Source: @WasimJaffer14/x.com] Labuschagne dropped by Australia [Source: @WasimJaffer14/x.com]

Australia have revealed their playing XI for the 1st Test Vs West Indies on Wednesday, June 25. The playing XI has no Steve Smith as the batter suffered an injury during the WTC final against South Africa and remains doubtful for the entire series. The visitors have also made one shocking call.

Out-of-form batter, Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped, and as per Cummins, Cameron Green will bat at his position, the number 3 spot. In place of Steve Smith, Josh Inglis comes in and the keeper-batter will play at 4. The Australian team is heading into the series on the back of a shocking loss Vs South Africa at the WTC finals and this will mark the start of a fresh cycle for the Australian team.

Australia's playing XI for 1st Test Vs West Indies

Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon

In the WTC final, Labuschagne opened the batting alongside Khawaja but for the first Test, the visitors have included Sam Konstas, who impressed everyone with his showing against India. 

Green, who had a poor outing in the WTC final has been given the responsibility to bat at 3, while Inglis will fill in for Smith at 4. The core of the bowling remains the same with Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins playing but Scott Boland once again gets ignored as the world beater will warm the bench for the opening game of the series.

Why was Labuschagne dropped from the playing XI?

The number 3 batter for Australia has had a horrendous last couple of years in Test cricket. After having a stellar start to his international Test career, Marnus Labuschagne's numbers dropped in 2023. In the past 2 years, he has only averaged 30.93 and 16.17 as the selectors had to make a harsh call.

The batter had one last chance to salvage his place during the WTC final but the Queensland batter failed and lost his place in the team.