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In the lead-up to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final between Australia and South Africa, set to commence on June 11 at Lord’s, Australian women’s team captain Alyssa Healy shared her perspective on the optimal men’s playing XI. Speaking on a LiSTNR podcast, Healy highlighted the challenge of selecting the final eleven from a strong 15-member squad, noting the depth and various options available to Australia and the difficult decisions required, particularly concerning versatile players like Cameron Green.
What players should Australia drop? Alyssa Healy reveals
Healy was resolute in her conviction that Cameron Green must be included in the playing XI. She acknowledged that integrating Green, who possesses valuable skills as both a seam bowler and a middle-order batter, would inevitably require adjustments and likely lead to the exclusion of a specialist player, either a dedicated batter or a bowler. In her projected eleven, Healy specifically named Sam Konstas, Scott Boland, Matthew Kuhnemann and Josh Inglis as the four individuals she expects to miss out on selection for the final match. Healy recognized that it is a harsh reality to leave out players of such quality, but she stressed that achieving the right balance in the team is paramount, and Green’s comprehensive all-around abilities ultimately weigh heavily in favor of his inclusion.
“And I’m looking at this squad thinking: how do you fit that 15 into the 11, and which way do you go? Because there are a lot of different options to consider. I think you’ve got to play Cam Green. So what does that do to your lineup? Well, someone is going to have to make way. I think Konstas is going to sit on the sidelines, and Boland is probably the other one to miss out. So I’m just narrowing it down to the four who probably won’t play: Boland, Kuhnemann, Inglis, and Konstas,” Healy said.
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Healy discloses her playing XI for the WTC final 2025 against South Africa at Lord’s
Breaking down her preferred batting lineup for the WTC final, Healy proposed that Usman Khawaja should open the innings, but with Marnus Labuschagne alongside him, representing a slight departure from the more traditional pairing with Travis Head. Steve Smith, a cornerstone of the Australian batting order, is placed at his customary number three position.
Green follows at number four, a placement that further underscores Healy’s strong belief in the young all-rounder’s capability to perform a significant role higher up the order. Head, known for his aggressive middle-order play and recent good form, is positioned at number five. Beau Webster, identified by Healy as an emerging talent in Australian cricket, is included at number six, providing another batting option. Alex Carey completes the batting order at number seven, taking on the crucial wicketkeeping responsibilities for the side.
With the batting core established, Healy’s chosen bowling attack comprises the experienced and reliable captain Pat Cummins, the left-arm pace and swing of Mitchell Starc, the consistent off-spin of Nathan Lyon, and the seasoned seam bowling of Josh Hazlewood. This selected bowling quartet offers a strategic mix of pace, swing, and spin, designed to be well-suited to the typical playing conditions anticipated at Lord’s.
“Okay, where does that leave me? Yeah, fair. I think that means you’ve gone with the safe option there. So that means it’s going to be Khawaja opening with Marnus. I’ll go Marnus and Steve Smith at three, then Cam Green at four, Travis Head at five, Beau Webster at six, and Alex Carey at seven. And then the bowlers: Cummins, Starc, Lyon, and Hazlewood,” Healy concluded.
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