After losing the WTC final, these players were dropped from the Australian team, Smith also out of the West Indies tour
Marcus Labuschagne Dropped, West Indies vs Australia Test: Australia has announced its Test team for the West Indies tour. Veteran batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the first Test due to injury, while Marnus Labuschagne, who is constantly struggling with poor form, has been shown the way out of the team.
After a crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025, significant changes have been made to the Australian cricket team. Now the Kangaroo team is ready for the next Test mission, which will start with the West Indies tour from June 25. Through this Test series, the teams of Australia and the West Indies will start the new cycle of the World Test Championship 2027.
Australia has announced its Test team for the West Indies tour. Veteran batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the first Test due to injury, while Marnus Labuschagne, who is constantly struggling with poor form, has been shown the way out of the team. Labuschagne has been struggling to score runs for the last two years. He was a complete flop in the recently played WTC final as well, scoring 17 runs in the first innings and only 22 runs in the second. Both times, he was sent to the pavilion by South African fast bowler Marco Jansen.
Josh Inglis and Sam Constas have got a chance in place of Labuschagne. Both players will be part of Australia's new batting line-up in the first Test starting in Barbados from June 25. The team management is especially excited about 19-year-old Sam Constas.
He was also part of the WTC squad but did not get a chance in the playing 11. In that match, Labuschagne was sent to open the innings with Khawaja to play Cameron Green at number 3, but Australia's move backfired completely.
Reacting to the team selection, selection committee chairman George Bailey said, "Marnus Labuschagne is struggling to score runs at the moment, but we are with him. We are confident that he will soon return to form and return to the team."
On Steve Smith's fitness, Bailey said, "Smith still needs some more time to recover from the injury. He will get a chance to play in the second Test starting in St. George from July 3, so we have rested him from the first Test."
Bailey also made it clear that Sam Konstas can be given a chance to open the innings with Usman Khawaja on the West Indies tour. The way young opener Sam plays fits into the team's future plans.
