On the Qantas Tour of the West Indies, Steve Smith will not play in the first game of the three-test series against the West Indies.
Steve Smith finger injury from the World Test Championship match against South Africa has forced him out. He is still eligible to participate in the second game.
Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas will replace Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the starting lineup for the first game, according to Selectors Chair George Bailey.
“We’ll give Steve Smith another week of rest and evaluate his functionality after that since he needs more time for the wound to heal.
“We’ve decided to offer Josh and Sam the chance to take Steve Smith and Marnus’ places. We are thrilled that they will get the opportunity to advance their nascent Test careers.
Josh was excellent in Sri Lanka during his lone Test match appearance to date, demonstrating a strong sense of purpose and the capacity to exert pressure on the opposition.
When Marcus is at his best, he can be a very valuable team player. He is aware that neither he nor we have been satisfied with his output.
The aspects of his game that we believe he needs to rediscover will be the focus of our ongoing work with him. We still respect his abilities and anticipate that he will overcome the obstacle in a constructive manner.
As the game draws nearer, the final XI and batting order will be decided.
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