Overview

• Australia will contest the first Test in Barbados on June 25 without Steve Smith or Marnus Labuschagne for the first time since 2018, as Smith recovers from a dislocated finger and Labuschagne is dropped for form issues.
• Sam Konstas is set to debut as opener alongside Usman Khawaja at Kensington Oval, while Josh Inglis moves into the middle order in place of Smith or Labuschagne.
• Vice-captain Travis Head said the blend of experience and fresh faces is ready to handle shifting pitch conditions and adapt between seam and spin.
• The series marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle and offers Australia a chance to move on from their recent final defeat to South Africa.
• Selectors will assess Smith’s fitness for the second Test in Grenada on July 3 and monitor Labuschagne’s progress after he refocuses on his batting in training.