Australia mull early release for Marnus Labuschagne as Steve Smith backed for second Test

Already out of the XI, Marnus Labuschagne could soon find himself out of the tour altogether with selectors mulling an early release for the axed veteran.

Australian selectors will consider releasing Marnus Labuschagne early from the West Indies tour – allowing him to play for Australia A or Glamorgan – as Steve Smith firms to return to play the second Test.

Aussie coach Andrew McDonald has meanwhile conceded that Sam Konstas struggled to strike a balance between attack and defence during his painstaking second innings in Barbados, but called for patience when it came to the teenager opener’s form.

The tourists’ win late on day three at Kensington Oval granted them a weekend off. Rain on the morning of what would have been day four highlighted that the task could have become more complicated had the Aussies not run through the Windies as swiftly as they did.

With two bonus days to enjoy Bajan hospitality, the Aussies were also due to welcome Smith back from New York where he spent a week recuperating from the compound finger dislocation he suffered in the World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa at Lord’s earlier in the month.

Smith is set for a fitness Test when the Aussies arrive in Grenada for the second Test – beginning Friday morning (AEST) – but McDonald said then former skipper was likely to be available, meaning he would slot back into the No. 4 position that was filled by Josh Inglis at Bridgetown.

Steve Smith is on his way to Barbados.

“Yeah, he’s progressed really well,” McDonald said.

“So he’s going to return today, later this afternoon (Saturday Barbados time). He’s had a net in New York. That finger, it’s really about functionality around the finger rather than anything else.

“So there’ll be no risk to long-term health of that finger. So he’ll return, and I think it’s likely he’ll play so leading into the next game, he’ll have the main session two days out. He’ll train the day before. So if that all goes well, then I’d expect Steve to resume at No. 4.”

Should Smith be given the green light, Inglis would almost certainly be the man to make way after the backup gloveman failed to make substantial impact with the bat in Barbados.

That would mean Australia would have two batting understudies in the squad, with national selectors to then contemplate whether Labuschagne would head back to Glamorgan – where he has been a regular in recent years – to play county cricket or return to Australia and feature in one or both of two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A that begin on July 13, overlapping with the third Test in Jamaica.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 12: Marnus Labuschagne of Australia looks dejected after losing his wicket during day 2 of the ICC World Test Championship, final match between South Africa and Australia at Lords Cricket Ground on June 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Harding/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Labuschagne was dropped for the first Test in the Windies.

“The first hurdle was Steve getting through those couple of training sessions. And if we do have a surplus of batters, then we will explore match opportunities, for sure,” McDonald said.

“I think we’ve done that with the fast bowlers over time. I think we sent Scott Boland back from India. So if we feel as though we’re carrying too many we’ll look for game time that’s in the plan. So we’ll see what’s available, where it is.

“Do we risk that? It’s a long way for players to get here as well. So if we release someone and then someone has to come in late, then it’s a big journey.”

Konstas is meanwhile set to be backed in despite scores of three and five in the first Test. The 19-year-old was unable to combat the threat of Shamar Joseph on a difficult wicket, but the coach said the youngster needed time to get up to speed with the challenges of Test cricket.

Sam Konstas has found the step up to Test cricket a difficult one. Picture: Randy Brooks / AFP

“We’ve had some conversations around potentially, if you’re in that situation, again, what does that look like?

“And that’s what experience is. It’s learning from previous events and trying to implement a way through that. It felt like he was stuck at times, and it was over-aggressive and then underplayed.

It’s really that balance and tempo. He’s got that there, and that’s a step up to Test cricket

“He’s got a really good partner down the other end (Usman Khawaja), that over time I think will play out and that’s all we ask for, is a bit of patience and time with it, with a young player coming into Test cricket.”

McDonald also reiterated that the Aussies would persist with Cameron Green at No. 3 despite his slim output since returning to the XI.

Meanwhile, Windies coach Daren Sammy has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point from the ICC for his stinging mid-match criticism of third umpire Adrian Holdstock.

Originally published as Australia mull early release for Marnus Labuschagne as Steve Smith backed for second Test