Michael Vaughan, Greg Blewett call for mass changes to Aussie batting lineup as Marnus dropped

Marnus Labuschagne has been dumped from Australia’s team - with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis set to face the West Indies. But that’s just the start of the changes being pushed by Test greats.

Cameron Green is too vulnerable outside off-stump to be a Test No.3 according to former England captain Michael Vaughan, who has joined the growing chorus of experts calling for Josh Inglis to bat at first drop with Steve Smith unavailable to play in Barbados next week.

Inglis and Sam Konstas will return to the Australian XI for the first Tests against the West Indies, with Marnus Labuschagne axed after 53 consecutive Tests.

Vaughan has meanwhile warned his old side not to take its eye off the ball in its home summer, suggesting that if England cannot beat India at home Ben Stokes’ men will have “no chance” of regaining the Ashes this summer.

After a commanding run of form for Gloucestershire, Green was elevated to No.3 for the World Test Championship final, a position at which he had never previously batted in Test cricket.

The move did not pay off, with the West Australian - not yet back bowling in matches after undergoing back surgery last year - nicking Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada to depart for four and 0 respectively across both innings.

Cameron Green’s promotion to No.3 in the Australian order didn’t pay off in the World Test Championship final. Picture: Getty

Green had replaced Labuschagne in the role, with the Queensland skipper moving to the top of the order where he is set to be replaced by Sam Konstas for the first Test against the West Indies beginning in Barbados on Thursday (AEST).

With Smith set to miss that match with the finger injury he suffered in the WTC final, former Australian Test opener Greg Blewett this week called for Inglis to bat at No.3, with Travis Head shifted to No.4 and Green at No.5.

Vaughan agreed that Inglis - who has generally batted at No.6 for Western Australia - was worth a shot much higher, with Green’s technical limitations a concern in the position.

“I think I’d have a go with Inglis at three. Put Cameron to No.4 if Smith’s not fit. I don’t see Cam as a No.3, he’s vulnerable outside the off stump against the moving ball,” Vaughan said.

“So why would you put him at No.3? He’s such a disruptive player when the ball’s a bit older and not doing quite as much. But I guess all these players want to bat from around five to seven.”

Australian selection chair George Bailey confirmed Labuschagne’s omission on Friday morning.

“Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn’t been at the level we, or he, expects,’ Bailey said.

“We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.”

Smith remains in contention to play the second Test in Grenada. The Aussies have not settled on a batting order for the series opener.

“Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we’ll give him another week’s rest and assess his functionality after that,” Bailey said.

“We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus. We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers.

“In his only opportunity in Test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition.”

While Green had played plenty of cricket in the lead-up to the series, Vaughan also said the Aussies looked collectively “short of a gallop” against South Africa and pondered whether a trend was emerging after Australia was thrashed in the opener of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series last summer, only to fire back for a 3-1 series win.

The Aussies have opted against tour matches under coach Andrew McDonald, while the delayed finish to the Indian Premier League season further complicated the Aussies’ build-up.

“So there’s one lesson. Maybe the modern era doesn’t like it, but maybe playing a bit more cricket before a big series or a big game (would be beneficial),” Vaughan said.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has some big decisions to make about his batting order. Picture: AP

While the Windies series is being billed as a key audition for the upcoming Ashes, Vaughan said England could not afford to get distracted by the looming battle for the urn in their battle with India which is live on Kayo Sports.

“The future looks after itself, but if you don’t look after the here and now by beating India, you’ve got no chance of winning in Australia,” Vaughan said.

“So they’ve just got to get all their tools right. They’ve got to get their decision making correct, and they’ve got to play smart cricket at times. And that’s been the vulnerability of England over the course of the last few years, is that they do have moments of madness. And if they can clarify and clear out the moment of madness, they’ll have a great chance of being successful Down Under.”

* Every ball of Australia’s upcoming tour of the West Indies is available live on Kayo Sports, via ESPN

MARNUS DROPPED, KONSTAS AND INGLIS IN FOR WINDIES OPENER

Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped for the opening Test in the West Indies, ending a streak of 53 consecutive Tests.

Meanwhile Steve Smith has officially been ruled out of the series opener in Bridgetown, with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis locked in to return to the Australian XI.

Labuschagne, who turns 31 on Sunday, has finally paid the price for an extended run of poor form. The former Test World No. 1 batter has averaged less than 30 over the past two years in the format with just one century.

Sam Konstas in action for Australia last summer. Picture: William WEST / AFP

He was moved to the top of the order for the World Test Championship final but the move failed to have the desired effect, with the Queenslander making 17 and 23 as Australia lost to South Africa.

Inglis, who made a century on debut in Galle earlier this year, will come back into the XI for the match beginning on Thursday (AEST), as will Konstas, who hasn’t played a Test since the Sydney match against India in January.

Konstas will almost certainly open the batting although selectors have not yet committed to a batting order for the series opener.

Smith has travelled to the Caribbean despite the compound dislocation in his finger in the hope he will be available for the second Test in Grenada.

“Steve needs more time for the wound to heal so we’ll give him another week’s rest and assess his functionality after that,” Australian selection chair George Bailey said.

Josh Inglis scored a century on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“We have made the decision to give Josh and Sam the opportunity to replace Steve and Marnus. We are excited to see them get the chance to further their fledgling Test careers.

“In his only opportunity in Test cricket to date, Josh was outstanding in Sri Lanka, showing great intent and ability to put pressure on the opposition.

“Marnus at his best can be a really important member of this team. He understands his output hasn’t been at the level we, or he, expects.

“We will continue working with him on the areas of his game we feel he needs to rediscover. We continue to value his skill and expect him to work through the challenge positively.”

Originally published as Michael Vaughan, Greg Blewett call for mass changes to Aussie batting lineup as Marnus dropped