Training intel: Josh Inglis set for new role in Australia team following Steve Smith injury and Marnus Labuschagne axing

The calls for Josh Inglis to move to No.3 have been answered. Sort of. DANIEL CHERNY brings us the latest from Australian training ahead of the first Test against the West Indies.

The calls for Josh Inglis to move to No. 3 have been answered.

Sort of.

Though Australia’s new-look batting order for the first Test is yet to be confirmed, its slip cordon is taking shape. And an unusual one at that.

With Steve Smith out of the series opener in the Caribbean with a finger injury, and Marnus Labuschagne dropped, there are vacancies not only in the top order but also alongside wicketkeeper Alex Carey and first slip Usman Khawaja.

At Australian training on Saturday (Barbados time), the uber-versatile Beau Webster fielded at second slip, while Cameron Green was positioned at gully, where he has forged a reputation for snaring some extraordinary catches.

Nestled between those giants at third slip was Inglis. Usually a wicketkeeper, Inglis has tended to roam the outfield when playing as a specialist batter for Australia, but it appears he will now stand only a couple of gentle ball tosses away from Alex Carey.

Once serious rivals for positions across both Test and one-day cricket, Inglis and Carey have shown this year that they can coexist across those two formats.

Inglis played two Tests in Sri Lanka earlier in 2025. Both men scored centuries in that series, with Carey in the middle when Inglis posted a ton on debut.

Alex Carey and Josh Inglis celebrate the latter’s century on debut. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Carey had been dislodged from the one-day international XI by Inglis during the 2023 World Cup, but by this year’s Champions Trophy there was room for both in the Aussie ODI side. The pair combined for a critical 146-run partnership in Australia’s win over England in Lahore, a match in which Carey even took an outstanding grab at mid on.

Inglis batted at No. 5 in Sri Lanka but with Labuschagne and Smith out, and questions being asked about Green’s suitability at first drop, several commentators have called for Inglis to bat as high as No. 3 when the Frank Worrell Trophy series against the West Indies begins on Thursday morning (AEST).

Adam Voges, the former Test batter who now coaches Inglis in Western Australia, backed Inglis to succeed in the top four.

“Obviously being a wicket-keeper you’re generally batting down the order,” Voges said after Thursday’s Big Bash League draft.

“We did trial Josh up the order a few years ago, batting at three and wicketkeeping, which is always difficult thing to do.

“We did that because we felt technically he’s good enough to play that role and be able to do it. And I think without potentially the burden of having to take the gloves I think it’s a role he can fill. And I guess if you fast forward to what does the Test team looks over the course of an Ashes summer, I think these three Tests is a great audition for a number of players, and certainly hopefully for Josh, potentially in that role.”

Smith has flown to New York – where he spends much of his spare time – as he seeks to recuperate in the hope of playing the second Test.

Originally published as Training intel: Josh Inglis set for new role in Australia team following Steve Smith injury and Marnus Labuschagne axing