Following their defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship Final, Australia have made a single injury-related change to their Test squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, the cricket board confirmed on Sunday, June 15.
🆕 Squad Update: Sean Abbott Replaces Brendan Doggett
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Sean Abbott, 33, has been added to the Test squad after Brendan Doggett suffered a minor hip injury.
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Doggett, who was Australia’s travelling reserve for the WTC Final, has returned home and will undergo rehabilitation.
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Abbott returns to the red-ball squad for the first time since the Sri Lanka tour earlier this year, having recently impressed with a 6/99 performance in a first-class match for New South Wales in March.
🤕 Steve Smith Injury Watch
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Steve Smith dislocated a finger while fielding at slip during day three of the WTC Final.
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He avoided surgery, but the injury will keep him in a splint for 8 weeks, raising doubts about his availability for the first Test in the Caribbean.
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Smith remains part of the squad and will travel to the West Indies, but his playing status is week-to-week depending on recovery and hand functionality.
🗣️ “It'll depend on my functionality... but it's probably the best result I could have hoped for,” Smith said at Lord’s.
🇦🇺 Updated Australia Test Squad for West Indies Tour:
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Pat Cummins (captain)
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Sean Abbott
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Scott Boland
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Alex Carey
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Cameron Green
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Josh Hazlewood
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Travis Head
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Josh Inglis
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Usman Khawaja
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Sam Konstas
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Matt Kuhnemann
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Marnus Labuschagne
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Nathan Lyon
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Steve Smith (injury concern)
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Mitchell Starc
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Beau Webster
🔎 Notes:
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No top-order batter was dropped despite underwhelming performances in the WTC cycle, with selectors opting for continuity—at least for the time being.
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All eyes will now be on whether Smith recovers in time, and how Australia balance their pace-heavy options in Caribbean conditions, which may favour spin and reverse swing.