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"Green is not No 3": Major issues with Australia XI exposed
SENZ • June 14th, 2025 11:31 am
- South Africa need 69 to win
- Smith suffered a dislocation
- WTC will likely be won on day 4
With the World Test Championship Final on the line and Australia staring down the barrel at a cricket final boilover, questions will be asked about selection decisions and what the rest of the year might look like for the starting XI.
Marnus Labuschagne was given the nod to opener alongside Usman Khawaja for the Lord’s “grand final” with selectors favouring experience over the "risk" of putting Sam Konstas under the pressure in a one-off finale.
Despite a length absence, Cam Green was brought in at No 3 ahead of Steve Smith, but given a lack of runs from the top three, some feel the experiment has failed.
Selection and batting order will remain a point of serious debate until the first ball against England in this year’s Ashes series at Optus Stadium in November and according to SEN’s Damien Fleming, a lot needs to change.
“We’ve complicated things here,” he said when asked about Australian selection. “I don’t like the top 3.
“Usman might get to the end of the Ashes and I expect him to get runs in the West Indies because it wont be dissimilar to Sri Lanka.
“Cam Green is not No 3.
“I’m a fan but where do you fit him in? He’s probably - in this line up - suited to No 6 but Beau Webster is not a superstar, but he’s just so handy in all three facets.
“I won’t be surprised if Inglis comes in in the West Indies but is he going to bat in the top 6 against England?
“There’s so many questions. We have got to pick openers.
“Cam Green, watch his technique, he’s not technically efficient enough to bat at top 3 – these are specialist roles.”
Adding to the uncertainty and difficulty with batting order selection is the fact Steve Smith is likely set for an extended time out after sustaining a sickening injury on day three at Lord’s.
Australia’s vice-captain suffered a compound dislocation to his right pinkie finger which, according to reports, will not require surgery, but does impact his chances of touring the West Indies.
Smith sustained the injury while attempting a catch.
“He never made it to the dressing room,” Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori said.
“The doc and physio got him and took him into a separate room there. They had to deal with that, so we weren’t really up to speed in terms of how gruesome the injury was,”
“We just heard that obviously there was a compound fracture or dislocation, something of that nature.
“We’ll just wait and see what comes back after he is back from hospital.”
