New‑Look Australia Face Unknowns as Test Series Against West Indies Gets Under Way

With only four members of Australia’s current Test squad in the Caribbean having featured in their last Test series here in 2015, and one of those — Steven Smith — nursing a finger injury in New York, it’s little wonder there is an element of uncertainty as the team prepares for its opening Test in Barbados.

Their first training session at Kensington Oval was an optional one. All batters attended, but all bowlers, except spinner Matt Kuhnemann, sat out as intermittent showers on a blustery day limited practice. The Test pitch was uncovered only briefly, forcing batters to hone their skills on adjacent surfaces. Meanwhile, the use of the Dukes ball in the Caribbean — a slightly different variant from the English version — has added another layer of intrigue.

"I think we're prepared for anything, really, and prepared for maybe both [seam and spin] in the same game," said Travis Head. "We could be starting the game and then it could shift into different modes and plans of attack. So, as a batter, you're just planning for anything at the moment. And then once you get a look at the lay of the land, you try to cover all bases."

Since that 2015‑16 tour, Australia’s only visits to the West Indies have been for the pandemic‑era white‑ball series in 2021 and last year’s T20 World Cup, both in Barbados. "They spun a little bit here," Head recalled. "They were pretty slow, but I've heard different things, especially with the Dukes and what that brings."

Australia arrive in Barbados with a top order short of a combined 14,570 Test runs compared to their side that played South Africa at Lord's, due to Smith’s injury and Marnus Labuschagne’s axing. Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have come into the squad, and while Smith may return for the second Test in Grenada, and Labuschagne is only one injury away from regaining a spot as the lone spare batter, this marks an early chapter in the team’s post‑World Test Championship “reset” that captain Pat Cummins spoke of.

It will be the first time since the 2018 Melbourne Test against India that Australia have lined up without Smith and Labuschagne. Since the latter’s recall for the final Test of that series and Smith’s return from suspension for the 2019 Ashes, the pair have been mainstays.

"When we get into the game, it'll be a little bit new‑look," Head said. "But guys have already played, so [there's] experience already in a short amount of Test cricket. There're some guys that have been part of the group for a long time now, so it shouldn't feel too different."

While the batting order is yet to be confirmed, and coach Andrew McDonald has kept the door open for Head to move up should conditions resemble those of the subcontinent, it's expected that Konstas will be given three games at the top to settle alongside Usman Khawaja as Australia seek continuity ahead of the Ashes.

There is also a school of thought that Head could move to No. 4 in Smith's absence, although Inglis, who made a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka, may fill that spot — potentially putting himself in line for a longer‑term role if he shines.

"He can cover so many bases," said Head of Inglis. "[He has had] limited opportunities for a long time being in the squad. It feels like he's played a lot more than he has for Australia. Once he gets an extended stay in the team, I think he'll excel. He's already shown great application in Sri Lanka. He's been in some tough roles as well… I think he's well‑adapted and ready to go. He's been waiting for a long time."

Two years ago, Australia went from beating India in the World Test Championship final straight into an Ashes campaign. This time, they arrive on the back of a defeat to South Africa after controlling much of the game for two days.

"It's unfortunate we put two years of hard work into one week and [it] didn't quite go to plan," Head reflected. "Fair play, the opposition played really, really well. We've got two more years to build, and this is a first look at it. I think if you dwell on it too long, or if you look back, you forget about what's moving forward. Of course, we care, and it's not ideal. But at the end of the day, you can't change it. You have to move on. You have to get back on the horse."

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