Follow UsSteve Smith’s injury has forced Australia’s hands, as Punjab Kings batter Josh Inglis is all but set to feature in the playing XI for the first Test against West Indies, starting June 25 (Wednesday).
With Cameron Green set to continue in his role as Australia’s No.3, Inglis just has one vacant spot, at No.4, a position usually deemed too high for a wicketkeeper batter. Western Australia’s coach Adam Voges, however, begs to differ, backing Inglis to play as a specialist batter in that No.4 role.
"Obviously being a wicket-keeper you're generally batting down the order," Voges said, reported ESPNCricinfo. "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 the Test team looks over the course of an Ashes summer, I think these three Tests are a great audition for a number of players, and certainly hopefully for Josh, potentially in that role."
Australia also dropped a bombshell, after axing Marnus Labuschagne, who has been with the team since the 2019 Ashes. Instead, the talented Western Australian all-rounder Cameron Green would be owning that role, and Voges has backed him to make an impact during the West Indies series.
During his first outing after returning from injury, Green suffered a terrible lapse of form, getting out for 4 and 0, sparking conversations about whether he would fit that role.
"We know how talented Cameron is," Voges said. "He's coming back off a long layoff with back surgery, missed out in the World Test Championship. There's going to be vastly different conditions in the West Indies. And he's a quality player and a class player, and he'll bounce back."