Scott Boland, Sam Konstas snubbed as Ricky Ponting announces Australia XI for WTC Final

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting has named his playing XI of the Australia National Cricket Team for the ICC World Test Championship Final.

Ricky Ponting did not pick the star pacer Scott Boland and young batting sensation Sam Konstas in his Australia playing XI for the ultimate Test match in June.

I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up - Ricky Ponting

The final of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 will be played between the Pat Cummins-led Australia National Cricket Team and Temba Bavuma-led South Africa National Cricket Team from June 11 at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London.

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Speaking on The ICC Review, batting great Ricky Ponting opined that the team management might push Marnus Labuschagne up the order to partner Usman Khawaja as opener, and his No.3 spot will be given to the returning Cameron Green.

He added that Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, and Alex Carey would take the No.4, No.5, No.6, and No.7 spots in the team and will be followed by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon till No.10. He said:

"I have just got a bit of a feeling that Marnus Labuschagne might be pushed up the order to open the batting with Khawaja. I think Green will bat at three and Steve Smith will be at four. Then it's Travis Head five, Beau Webster six, Carey at seven, Cummins eight, Starc nine and Lyon 10."

Notably, Green just recently made his comeback to competitive cricket. His last Test outing came against the New Zealand National Cricket Team in March 2024, and he was out of action for a long time due to a back injury.

To prove his fitness for the ICC World Test Championship Final, Cameron Green played five matches in County Cricket for Gloucester and smashed three centuries.

But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back - Ricky Ponting snubs Scott Boland

Ricky Ponting then picked Josh Hazlewood as the 11th member of the team over Scott Boland, who has consistently delivered exceptional performances for Australia in Test cricket in the limited opportunities he got. He said:

"And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one. It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team."

While talking about the Marnus Labuschagne-Sam Konstas situation, Ricky Ponting stated that the experienced batter is likely to get the nod despite hitting just one Test century since the end of 2022. He explained:

"I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne. Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that.

"And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final.

"Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different thing...all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks."

The 19-year-old Sam Konstas has played two Test matches for the Australia National Cricket Team and has scored 113 runs at an average of 28.25 after making his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Ricky Ponting's Australia XI For World Test Championship Final vs SA:

1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Marnus Labuschagne, 3. Cameron Green, 4. Steve Smith, 5. Travis Head, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood.

Also Read: Watch: Virat Kohli's right-hand man brutally mocks PBKS after RCB storm into IPL 2025 Final