Australia have announced their XI for the World Test Championship final, with a move up the order to open confirmed for Marnus Labuschagne.
Labuschagne will open the batting for the first time in his Test career, partnering Usman Khawaja in the marquee game which starts tomorrow (June 11) at Lord's. Labuschagne's place was under threat after a difficult run of form in the format, which has left him without a century since 2023, as well as the return of Cameron Green from a back injury which has kept him out of the side for over a year.
With Green back in the side and batting at No.3, there's no room for Sam Konstas, who shot into the limelight during Australia's series against India earlier this year when he scored a half-century on debut. Josh Inglis also misses out on the final XI, having scored a century on debut in Sri Lanka in Australia's most recent Test series.
WTC final: Australia XI
Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
All-rounder Beau Webster has retained his place in the side after impressing against both India and Sri Lanka earlier this year. The 31-year-old took two wickets in 13 balls against Sri Lanka in the final innings of that tour, and also made a half-century on debut against India. He will compliment a bowling attack which also contains Josh Hazlewood, who was picked over Scott Boland.
Boland took 10 wickets in his last Test outing against India in Sydney, and has taken 56 wickets in 13 matches across his stop-start Test career so far. Hazlewood, however, has 13 wickets from three matches at Lord's, and 52 from 12 Tests in England.
South Africa also announced their XI for the upcoming match today, naming Lungi Ngidi as their third seamer and backing Wiaan Mulder at No.3, a role he continues in from the Sri Lanka and Pakistan series.
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