Australia Drops Labuschagne, Smith Hurt for West Indies Test

Australia has made significant changes to their cricket team for the first Test against the West Indies, dropping Marnus Labuschagne due to poor form and sidelining Steve Smith with a dislocated finger. Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been called up to replace them, with Konstas likely to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. Labuschagne, once the world’s top-ranked Test batter, has struggled with an average below expectations over the past year and was moved to open in the recent World Test Championship final, where he scored 17 and 22. Smith, meanwhile, avoided surgery but needs more time to heal and might return for the second Test in Grenada. Selectors remain optimistic about Labuschagne’s future, emphasizing ongoing support to help him rediscover his form. Both Konstas and Inglis have shown promise early in their Test careers, with Inglis notably scoring a century on debut earlier this year.