Australia lock in team changes to Test for West Indies Test series

Australia have confirmed two significant changes to the team that will take on the West Indies in the first Test in Adelaide.

Australia have confirmed Steve Smith will open the batting and Cameron Green will return to the team for the first Test against the West Indies.

After claiming a 3-0 series clean sweep over Pakistan, Australia turn their attention to a two-match series against the West Indies beginning in Adelaide on Wednesday.

The Aussies are raging favourites to win 2-0, with most intrigue surrounding Smith after he volunteered to move up the order and try his hand opening the batting after David Warner retired from Test cricket.

Watch Australia vs West Indies on Kayo Sports. Every Test, ODI and T20I Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

“It’s a new challenge for him which I don’t think you can underestimate,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said.

“I’ve never seen him as happy and as energetic as he’s been around the nets the last couple of days. He can’t wait to get out there.

“Seeing someone who’s basically achieved everything in the game get really excited for a new challenge, you’ve got to entertain that.”

The Aussies take on the West Indies in two Tests. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Green has been picked to bat at No. 4 in what will be his first Test match since he was dropped for Mitch Marsh for the third Ashes Test in England.

Selectors have been desperate to squeeze both Marsh and Green into the team, such is the talent the two all-rounders boast.

Green, 24, and Marnus Labuschagne, 29, are the only two members of the team aged under 30.

Cummins said there was no conspiracy as to why Cameron Bancroft wasn’t chosen to replace Warner in this series.

“Yeah, I’ve got absolutely no issues with Bangers, love what he brings,” Cummins said in Adelaide.

“(I told him) ‘just don’t change. We’ve loved playing with you in the past and keep doing your thing. I’m sure you’ll be back in Aussie colours pretty soon.”

Selection chief George Bailey also dismissed the sandpaper incident, and the fallout, as having anything to do with Bancroft not being picked.

Cummins also called Marcus Harris, who was given a Cricket Australia contract and had been pumped up by Warner as his likely successor, before he too was snubbed.

“Called them both. Yeah, obviously private phone calls but no real surprises. Just (that) we love what they both are doing in first-class cricket. We love what they bring to any side they’re playing. They’re doing all the right things,” Cummins said.

Cummins said there’s no ill will towards Cam Bancroft. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

“Unfortunately, they both just missed out on this one. So message was ‘don’t change we’re loving what you’re doing and international cricket, there’s always injuries or you know, these guys aren’t going to be around forever. “Marcus and Cameron are still relatively young as is Renners. So once that opening comes up at some point, any one of them we’re confident can jump straight in and do a really good job.”

Former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian said fitting Green into the side made Australia’s team immediately better.

“We need to work out a way to get Mitch Marsh and Cam Green into the side, two really good players who could be exceptional for Australia,” Julian told news.com.au. 

“I think we’ve taken our Test team to the next level. I think we have made that Test team better. We’ve got a powerhouse in the middle order, which allows us to play an aggressive style of cricket and that’s what we’ve got to be playing in the next year or two.

“We’ve got to be a bit like England where we take on oppositions and we play an attractive style of cricket. I think the selectors have done a bold move. I like that.”

Steve Smith will open the batting. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Cam Green is back. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Julian said the West Indies series could have been an opportunity to rest either Mitch Starc or Josh Hazlewood and give fast bowler Lance Morris his debut.

“I would have probably rested one of the quick bowlers in this series for Lance Morris,” he said.

“I think we’ve got to get him into Test cricket a bit earlier. I’d definitely take him to New Zealand and play him on those pitches, that’d be a real good learning curve.

“I wouldn’t be changing the side too much because the guys in the side wants to play Test cricket and you’ve got to let them play. Test cricket is under enough pressure as it is, you don’t want a depleted Test side.

“We’re taking the bold move by playing as many good players as they can, but I definitely thought they could have rested one of the quicks and played Lance Morris.”

The first Test begins at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach

— With NCA Newswire