Labuschagne to Partner Khawaja as Opener for Australia

LONDON: Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, has revealed the team’s starting eleven for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. The match is set to commence on Wednesday at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Marnus Labuschagne, the former top-ranked Test batsman, is slated to open Australia’s batting order alongside Usman Khawaja. Youngster Sam Konstas, aged 19, was not selected for the match.

Cummins explained that Labuschagne was chosen as opener over Konstas due to his prior experience playing at the venue and his impressive track record in England.

Cummins’ Statement

“With Marnus’s move, we view it as an advancement of one position. It’s quite similar to batting at the third position,” Cummins commented.

“Marnus brings a wealth of experience and has performed admirably at Lord’s and throughout England.

“Opening can present challenges, but it can also be the optimal time for batting, particularly before the Dukes ball begins to swing significantly.

“There’s a chance to accumulate runs, and I believe preserving that ball will be advantageous.”

The captain also mentioned that Konstas was disappointed about missing out but stressed that they would provide worthwhile learning opportunities for him.

“In reality, he’s quite young and has a promising career ahead,” Cummins added.

“Hopefully, even without playing, we can offer him valuable learning experiences.”

Regarding the bowling attack, seasoned pacer Josh Hazlewood edged out Scott Boland to join captain Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Cummins acknowledged Boland’s exclusion as unfortunate for the 36-year-old, assuring him of future opportunities to exhibit his abilities in upcoming matches.

“There are instances where you generally acknowledge that someone has done nothing wrong, and that’s Scott. It’s truly unfortunate that he’s missing out,” the captain stated.

“The message to Scott is that many Test matches are scheduled in the coming years. Just because you’re in your mid-30s doesn’t imply that missing this Test marks the end of your career.

“By maintaining a squad of fast bowlers, we hope to prolong many careers by a few additional years.”

The lineup also signals the return of batting all-rounder Cameron Green, who has been absent from Test cricket since March 2024 due to a back injury.

Australia’s Playing XI for WTC Final:
  • Usman Khawaja
  • Marnus Labuschagne
  • Cameron Green
  • Steve Smith
  • Travis Head
  • Beau Webster
  • Alex Carey (wk)
  • Pat Cummins (c)
  • Mitchell Starc
  • Nathan Lyon
  • Josh Hazlewood