Opener Sam Konstas and reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will both play in the first Test against West Indies as Australia named a new-look batting line-up for the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados next week on 25th June. Steven Smith has been forced out of the side through injury and an out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne dropped.
The incoming pair Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas 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 Josh Inglis scoring a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Josh Inglis stellar Test and domestic records
At 30, Josh Inglis is among the most in-form players globally across formats this year. He scored a century on his Test debut in Sri Lanka, batting at No.5 – his first hundred at that position in first-class cricket, having previously managed just one fifty in five innings there.
Josh Inglis experience at No. 3 and No. 4 is even more limited: he averaged 12.66 from six innings at No. 3 for WA in 2019 and batted only once at No.4, scoring 44 back in 2015. His strongest position remains No. 6, where he averages over 50 and has scored four first-class centuries, all while playing as WA’s designated wicketkeeper.
Josh Inglis could possibly bat at No.4 in Australia’s revamped top-order for the first Test in the Caribbean and his Western Australia (WA) coach Adam Voges believes the wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is more than capable of succeeding in the top four at Test level despite limited experience there in first-class cricket.
Former Australian batter Adam Voges backs Josh Inglis to bat at No 4 during WI Tests
Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been added to the squad for the first Test. Josh Inglis made a strong start to his Test career by scoring a century on debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Konstas also caught attention when he faced Jasprit Bumrah confidently in front of a big crowd on Boxing Day.
Konstas was not picked for the Sri Lanka series as Australia chose Travis Head to open because of spin-friendly conditions. But, coach Andrew McDonald later said Konstas was considered for the WTC final before they decided to go with Labuschagne. Now, Konstas is expected to open the innings with Usman Khawaja in the first Test against the West Indies. Inglis might play in the middle order, but his position is unclear, as Cameron Green could also return. Josh Inglis batted at No.5 and 6 during the Sri Lanka series.
Former Australian batter Adam Voges has endorsed Josh Inglis for the No. 4 spot in Australia’s revamped top order for the upcoming first Test in the Caribbean. The Western Australia (WA) coach is confident that the wicketkeeper-batter can excel in the top four at the Test level, despite his limited first-class experience in those positions.
“Obviously, being a wicketkeeper, you’re generally batting down the order. We did trial Josh up the order a few years ago, batting at three and wicketkeeping, which is always a difficult thing to do,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Voges as saying.
“We did that because we felt technically he’s good enough to play that role and be able to do it. And I think without the burden of having to take the gloves, I think it’s a role he can fill. And I guess if you fast forward to what does the Test team looks like over the course of an Ashes summer, I think these three Tests is a great audition for a number of players, and certainly hopefully for Josh, potentially in that role,” he added.
Australia Test squad for the series against West Indies
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.
Meanwhile, Australia’s next Test assignment is a three-match away tour of the West Indies starting June 25 in Barbados which marks their inaugral series of a new 2025-27 WTC cycle.