Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Head tips Inglis to excel as batting order begins to take shape
SEN • June 23rd, 2025 4:00 pm
Travis Head is excited to play in a bit of a new-look Australia XI for the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados this week.
Test mainstay Marnus Labuschagne lost his spot in the XI following the World Test Championship defeat to South Africa, while Steve Smith will also miss at least the first Test with a finger injury.
As a result, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis have been called into the side, and it’s expected that Inglis will fill in for Smith in the middle order.
While Head has previously opened in some Tests when conditions have suited spin bowling, he expects to stay in the middle order this time around despite the new look of the batting order.
"When we get into the game, it'll be a little bit new look," Head told the media.
"But guys have already played, so they have experience already in a short amount of Test cricket.
“There are some guys there that have been a part of the group for a long time now, so it shouldn't feel too much different.
“I don’t think (that I’ll open), I think with Sam and Uz playing that’ll be likely their role.
“But this is a very mature and experienced group, so if conditions changed during the game and we needed to move things around to win a game in whatever conditions then we can always be open.”
While the loss of Smith will no doubt hurt the side, particularly as he’s scored 646 runs from his last 10 Test knocks, Head is confident that Inglis can also excel in whatever situation he’s thrust into with the bat.
"He can cover so many bases," Head said.
“He’s had limited opportunity in a long time being in the squad, so it feels like he's played a lot more than he has for Australia.
“Once he gets his extended stay in the team, I think he'll excel.
“He's already shown great application in Sri Lanka and has 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… it’s exciting for Josh.”
The batting order for the first Test will be announced before play kicks off at midnight on June 26.
SEN will be in the West Indies and live streaming every ball of the three Tests.
