Bold headline: Inglis to replace Khawaja for Gabba Test as Webster misses out
Josh Inglis will step in for Usman Khawaja and makes his return to a Test on Australian soil at the Gabba on Thursday.
Inglis is slated to bat in the middle order, taking the spot left by Travis Head, who will open alongside Jake Weatherald, according to three insiders familiar with the team plans.
The plan also confirms that all-rounder Beau Webster is set to miss out on selection.
Australia will wait to inspect the pitch on Wednesday afternoon before locking in the final XI, acting captain Steve Smith said.
The Gabba surface appeared lush and green on Wednesday, but Brisbane’s warm weather—temperatures in the high 20s—could dry the track under sun exposure.
“Ideas are still on the table,” Smith commented. “We’ll assess the wicket and then decide the playing XI.”
Skipper Pat Cummins remains a distant possibility to return after missing the Perth opener. With little competitive match practice since the Caribbean tour, Cummins’ best chance hinges on selecting a bowler-friendly pitch that could yield another shortened game.
“From what I’ve seen in Nets, he looks good,” Smith noted. “Matches are a different level of intensity, but he’s tracking well and knows his body. We’ll wait and see.”
Inglis, a versatile wicketkeeper-batsman who has shone across formats, has played three Tests for Australia—two vs Sri Lanka and one vs the West Indies. He memorably scored 102 off 94 balls in his debut Test in Galle this year, becoming the first Australian to reach triple figures on debut since Adam Voges in 2015.
Heading to Brisbane, Inglis arrives in form, following scores of 40 and an unbeaten 125 for a Cricket Australia XI against the England Lions last month. His only uninterrupted Sheffield Shield appearance this season came for Western Australia, due to international white-ball duties, with scores of 4 and 28.
He contributed 17 runs across two innings in his most recent Test against the West Indies in Barbados. In first-class cricket, Inglis averages 35.67.
“[He’s] been a really reliable player for a long time,” Smith affirmed. “He’s progressed through the system and keeps improving. In every opportunity—T20, one-day, or Test cricket—he gives his best and performs for the team. If he gets this chance, he’ll excel.”
Inglis’ selection effectively sidelines Webster, who had shown promise early in his Test career and had been a regular since the Sydney Test against India this year.
Webster was in the mix with coach and selector Andrew McDonald and chair of selectors George Bailey at the start of training before collecting his gear for a batting session, signaling the end of his run of selection. Would you have preferred Webster to earn another chance, or is Inglis the right call for this Test? Share your thoughts in the comments.
