Australia captain Pat Cummins has admitted that changes are on the horizon following his side’s unexpected defeat to South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. The five-wicket loss ended Australia’s unbeaten run in ICC finals since 2010 and exposed glaring flaws in their top-order batting.
Australia, who were defending their 2023 WTC crown, crumbled in the second innings to 144-8 before some lower-order resistance from Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey added a touch of respectability. Reflecting on the batting failure, Cummins said, “There’s probably quite a few people in the lineup that wish they could have done a little bit more. Obviously, the top three was an obvious one in this game.”
Marnus Labuschagne, promoted to open for the first time, scored just 17 and 22, continuing a nearly two-year century drought. Veteran Usman Khawaja, 38, was dismissed cheaply in both innings by Kagiso Rabada, while Cameron Green, returning from injury at No. 3, failed to make a significant impact.
With Steve Smith unavailable due to a finger injury, teenager Sam Konstas is expected to be handed an opportunity as opener on the upcoming West Indies tour. Josh Inglis could also enter the selection frame. Cummins hinted at a broader squad review, signalling potential changes as the team looks to regroup and rebuild ahead of their next challenge.