Latest news with #selectors
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark Taylor calls for Marnus Labuschagne to make 15,000km move after Test axing
Aussie cricket great Mark Taylor hopes the axing of Marnus Labuschagne signals a more ruthless approach from selectors and believes the veteran batter should make the 15,000km trip back home from the Caribbean. Labuschagne paid the price for an alarming form slump over the last two years, with the 30-year-old dropped for this week's first Test against the West Indies, in Barbados. Teenage opener Sam Konstas returns to the starting XI after starring in the India series victory and will likely take Labuschagne's spot at opener. While Josh Inglis has also earned a Test recall at the expense of Steve Smith, who dislocated his finger in the WTC final loss to South Africa at Lord's. Labuchagne has remained with the squad in the Caribbean but Taylor believes it would be better for him to return home to Australia to have a 'refresh' and focus on returning for the Ashes series at the end of the year. "Come back, have a bit of time off from the game, just refresh. That wouldn't be a bad thing. Get ready for the Australian summer," the former Australia captain told Wide World of Sports. Taylor hopes Labuchagne's axing signals a 'tougher' approach from the Aussie selectors, who've had a long history of persisting with out-of-form veterans. The writing had been on the wall for Labuschagne for some time, with his last Test century coming in the 2023 Ashes series in England. Having previously been the world's No.1-ranked Test batter, Labuschagne has only averaged 27.82 in the past 12 months. And after struggling with the bat in Test series against India and Sri Lanka this year, as well as the WTC final, his average in 2025 has plummeted to just 16.16, leaving selectors with little option but to axe him. Considered among the best Test batters in the world, Marnus Labuschagne now finds himself out of the Australia did he slip so far down? @Aadya_Wisden examines.#WIvAUS #MarnusLabuschagne — Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 22, 2025 At his best, Labuschagne has proven that he's a classy batter and an invaluable part of Australia's top order. And Taylor believes he has what it takes to go away and work on his technique, regain confidence and return to the Test side as a more formidable batter. "He's got time to come back, and I think he will come back, Marnus, and probably come back a better player," Taylor added. RELATED: Alyssa Healy reveals retirement backflip in huge call on future South Africa get last laugh as Aussie sledge backfires badly Pat Cummins' key confession after rival admits to 'dodgy' act For now though, teenage sensation Konstas gets the chance to cement his spot at opener after being dropped off the back of his incredible debut Test series against India. The 19-year-old is set to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order against the Windies, with Inglis perhaps favoured to take over at No.3 after Cameron Green's struggles there in the WTC final. Green looked troubled after returning scores of just 4 and 0 in his two innings at Lord's and would probably prefer to return to his favoured No.4 role in Smith's absence. While Inglis returns after his memorable century on debut in Sri Lanka this year. And the 30-year-old is happy to bat wherever suits, having performed in various roles for Western Australia and Australia's white-ball sides. "I think it's just because I have done it, I feel comfortable going into different positions," Inglis told reporters at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval. "I've batted at the top in white-ball cricket and in the middle, so I've become accustomed to moving around a fair bit and something I pride myself on. "I took a lot of confidence from (from Sri Lanka); my debut Test match, it was nice to go out there and get a hundred." Australia convincingly won both matches of the two-Test tour of the West Indies the last time they were there in 2015 and will be hoping to kick off the new WTC cycle in similar fashion. Aussie coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins have described the Windies series as a "reset" for the Test side, and with eight members of the XI having never played a Test in the region, it has that feel. Bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are the only current players who featured on that 2015 tour. with agencies
Daily Telegraph
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Australian Test cricket crisis laid bare as major shake-up looms, World Test Championship final, South Africa, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, latest team news, updates
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. COMMENT As Australia licks its wounds from an embarrassing five-wicket World Test Championship final defeat at the hands of South Africa, changes are already being discussed both internally and externally. But there isn't long for Australian selectors to get their ducks in a row, with the next two-year Test cricket cycle beginning later this month with a three-Test series against the West Indies. There are many things for selectors to mull over, such as who should open the batting, and if it is worth bringing in a second specialist tweaker such as Matt Kuhnemann, with subcontinental conditions usually favouring the tweakers. West Indies vs. Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. But what does not appear to have changed is the selectors' stubbornness in selecting the best six Australian batsmen irrespective of where they usually bat, their age or whether or not they are in form. However, sooner rather than later they will need to look beyond just a single Test series as the reality is they have somewhat screwed themselves by sticking solid with the same group of veterans. The reality is the Australian squad is ageing out and the next generation has been badly devoid of opportunities. The two youngsters blooded last summer, Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas were both dropped despite the former being played in an unfamiliar role as opener and the latter being overlooked for non-openers Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. That was despite the fact he rattled the world's best bowler in the world Jasprit Bumrah and clearly has immense raw untapped ability. Make that make sense. Australia need to make changes and fast. Image: Getty Aussie fans have been blessed with a strong generation of cricketers, which has resulted in the side taking out major tournament after major tournament until now. The WTC final defeat will be a tough pill to swallow but for Aussie fans, it could be about to get much worse, with years of selection decisions set to come back to bite in the long run. In the World Test Championship, Cam Green was the only Aussie under the age of 30 in the team. And when injuries have presented selectors with the chance to blood youth, instead they routinely turn to the likes of Scott Boland and Michael Neser and others deep into their 30s. It has seen many other fast bowlers come and go as nothing more than Sheffield Shield journeymen and it is even more grim for the batsman. That is why the likes of Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and before them David Warner were almost undroppable. Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw have all come and gone, dropped at the first sign of struggle, while others hold onto their spots regardless of their output. The reality is that come the next WTC final, it would be fair to assume half of the Australian side that lined up this week will be retired, so major changes need to happen sooner rather than later. Josh Inglis could solve Australia's opener woes. (Photo by) Who should Australia select for the West Indies series? Let's start with the openers. It's time to go Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja. Khawaja returned scores of 0 and 6 in the WTC final and has had a very grim few years with the bat, barring one series against Sri Lanka. At 38 years of age, his time has come and gone and luckily for Australia, there is a ready-made replacement in Konstas. The teenager has a lot of work to do granted but there is no shortage of raw talent and competitiveness ready to be moulded into a potentially generational batsman. While fellow WTC final opener Labuschagne is badly out of touch and a stint back in Sheffield Shield could do him the world of good. He is averaging just 25.63 in Tests during the 2024/25 season and looked devoid of all confidence against South Africa. In his place, I would go with Josh Inglis. His rapid-fire century on Test debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year reinforced his credentials as a red ball player and is someone who Australia needs to find a spot for. So why not at opener? Steve Smith is a No. 3 whether he likes it or not. That move would also allow for Cam Green to slot in at his preferred four. However, it is worth noting Smith dislocated his finger in the loss to the Proteas. If he isn't fit I could advocate for Nathan McSweeney to come in. At 26 years old, the batsman's best years are ahead of him and after two strong Sheffield Shield seasons he deserves a proper crack in the Test fold, where he isn't thrown to the wolves facing the new ball. From there I would keep it fairly similar to the side who were beaten by South Africa with Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey rounding out the middle order. From there, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all nearly undroppable as is Nathan Lyon. But I could entertain a rotation of one pace bowler getting a rest so tweaker Matt Kuhnemann could make up a two-pronged spin attack with Lyon. Sam Konstas deserves another crack at opener. (Photo by) Nathan McSweeney has been strong at Sheffield Shield level in the past few seasons. (Photo by) Pat Cummins suggests changes are on the cards With the 2027 WTC cycle kicking off when Australia travel to the West Indies, Australian skipper Cummins hinted that changes could be on the cards. 'We've got a couple of weeks before the first Test in the Windies, so we'll sit down and have a bit of a think after we digest this game,' he said. 'But for me, I think a new WTC cycle in some ways does feel like a bit of a reset. 'It's probably more for the selectors and for me to sit down and map it ahead.' Cummins also suggested the likes of Konstas and Inglis could find themselves in the team come the first Test against the Windies. 'Coming to this match, you've got guys like Sam Konstas and Scotty Boland and Josh Inglis, all those guys were right on the fringes,' he said. 'So I think again, after this Test match, everyone gets thrown back into the conversation.' Australia's three-Test series against West Indies in Barbados kicks off on June 25. Predicted Australian XI to face the West Indies 1. Sam Konstas 2. Josh Inglis 3. Steve Smith (or Nathan McSweeney) 4. Cam Green 5. Travis Head 6. Beau Webster 7. Alex Carey 8. Pat Cummins 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Josh Hazlewood Originally published as 'Screwed themselves': Aussie crisis laid bare as major Test shake-up looms
Times of Oman
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Scott Boland in dark about his spot in Australia's playing XI for WTC final
London: Australia's seasoned quick Scott Boland is still in the dark about his potential appearance in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Tuesday at the Lord's, a venue where he would "love" to play. With match figures of 5/105, the 36-year-old was one of Australia's premier pacers when they lifted their maiden WTC mace at The Oval in 2023 against India. He boosted his credentials against India by scalping 21 wickets in three appearances as Australia celebrated its first Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in a decade. Despite his exploits, Boland has found himself in a neck-to-neck battle with IPL-winning seamer Josh Hazlewood for one spot in the defending champions' pace setup against the Proteas. With less than a week left for the enticing contest, Boland has yet to receive the green light from the selectors about his spot in the playing XI. "I haven't had any chats with them (selectors). My goal coming into the last two months is just to get myself and my body in the position where I can put my hand up and be ready to go if it (selection) goes my way," Boland said in London on Thursday, as quoted from ICC. "I probably felt like back into the Shield season (Australian domestic red-ball competition), my knee was sort of not wearing away but wasn't going how I wanted it to go and didn't feel like I was bowling how I wanted, but now I feel like I'm in a really good spot that I can bowl how I want to bowl. It's pulling up really well, so that's all I can do, and I just want to make that decision (for selectors) as hard as possible," he added. Boland snuck his first training session with Australia on Wednesday while Hazlewood linked up with the team in London after his title-winning campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday. The 36-year-old is aware of the carnage that a fully fit Hazlewood can inflict on the opposition. However, he pushed his case by citing his recent stellar performances for Australia in the Test format. "I feel like I had a couple of really strong games (during the Border-Gavaskar series), but Josh is obviously a world-class bowler. He's one of the best bowlers in the world, coming off a really good IPL, so I'm sure he'll be doing the same thing here (to push his case for selection). Obviously, we all want to play, but there's probably not room for all of us," Boland said. If Boland earns a spot in Australia's playing XI, he will make his first appearance at the iconic Lord's. For him, it will be a "pretty special" moment to bowl at the 'Home of Cricket'. "I'd love to play at Lord's. I think everyone's looking forward to getting there for training in a few days' time and then getting to the game, as it's a pretty special place for cricket," he added.
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Glenn Maxwell to focus on T20 cricket after calling time on his one-day international career
Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has called time on a memorable one-day international career, saying he wanted to avoid playing on for 'selfish reasons'. The 36-year-old big-hitting batsman and off-spin bowler made 149 ODI appearances for Australia, with his 50-over format career including two World Cup triumphs. Maxwell's strike rate of 126 is the second highest in ODI cricket, with his statistics including four hundreds – including his heroic 201 not out from 128 balls against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup – 23 half-centuries and 77 wickets. However, it was in field where Maxwell felt his standards were starting to slip, which had led to his ODI retirement. 'I felt like I was letting the team down a little bit with how body was reacting to the conditions,' Maxwell told the Final Word podcast. 'I had a good chat with (chairman of selectors) George Bailey, and I asked him what his thoughts were going forward. 'We talked about the 2027 (ODI) World Cup and I said to him 'I don't think I am going to make that, it's time to start planning for people in my position to have a crack at it and make the position their own'. 'I always said I wasn't going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn't want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons. 'They are moving in such a clear direction, so this gives them the best look at what the line-up is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is.' Bailey said Maxwell still had 'much to offer Australia in the T20 format'. 'All things going well he will be pivotal in the next 12 months as we build toward the (T20) World Cup early next year,' Bailey said. 'His level of natural talent and skill is remarkable. His energy in the field, under-rated ability with the ball and longevity has been superb. 'What else stands out is his passion for and commitment to playing for Australia.' Cricket Australia chief executive officer Todd Greenberg praised Maxwell for 'one of the most exciting and influential one-day international careers in the format's history'. 'As with other greats of the game, crowds have flocked to grounds just to watch Glenn bat and children have been inspired to pick up a bat after seeing him put opposition attacks to the sword with a breathtaking array of shots.' Greenberg said. 'Australian cricket is indebted to Glenn for his ODI exploits. and excited that he will now focus on our quest to win the ICC T20 World Cup next year.'
