West Indies vs Australia: Josh Inglis ready for anything in reshuffled Test batting line-up

Josh Inglis is unsure where he will bat in the new-look Australian line-up as the vanquished Test champions prepare to play in the West Indies for the first time in a decade.

After scoring a century on debut in Sri Lanka earlier this year, Inglis made way for the World Test Championship final at Lord's.

But after Marnus Labuschagne's long-term struggles continued and Steve Smith suffered a nasty dislocated finger in the shock defeat to South Africa, Australia opted to bring Inglis and teenage tyro Sam Konstas in for the first Test in Barbados.

In his two Tests in Galle, Inglis batted at number five as Travis Head pushed up to open, as he often has in Asia.

Labuschagne dropped, Smith out injured Photo shows Marnus Labuschagne carries his bat, helmet and gloves Marnus Labuschagne goes from the world's top-ranked Test batter to dropped in the space of two years, after being left out of the team to face the Windies.

But with Konstas almost certain to partner veteran opener Usman Khawaja in facing the new ball, Inglis could be asked to bat at number three.

That would allow Cameron Green to shift to number four, now vacant due to Smith's injury.

In his first Test for more than a year in the World Test Championship final, Green struggled at number three with scores of 4 and 0 in his return from back surgery.

Inglis said he is unfazed where he bats, having constantly moved around in the first-class cricket for Western Australia and in international white-ball games.

ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of every day of all three West Indies-Australia Tests.

"I think it's just because I have done it, I feel comfortable going into different positions," Inglis told reporters at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval.

"I've batted at the top in white-ball cricket and in the middle, so I've become accustomed to moving around a fair bit, and [it's] something I pride myself on.

"With Smudge [Smith] getting injured, there was an opportunity for someone else to come in.

"I took a lot of confidence from [from Sri Lanka]; my debut Test match, it was nice to go out there and get a hundred."

Suddenly, an inexperienced Test line-up

Incumbent wicketkeeper Alex Carey will retain the gloves, meaning Inglis will likely be in the slip cordon between giants Green and Beau Webster.

"It's probably like a bail in between two stumps with me in between those two, so it should be good viewing on camera," he said.

But the 30-year-old said he prided himself on fielding well, having only taken up wicketkeeping full-time when he was 14 years old.

Coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins have been open about this series being a "reset" for the group.

They were unable to defend the Test title they won in 2023, but the first Test, starting Thursday midnight AEST, gets the new WTC cycle underway and presents the Test team's last hit-out before this summer's Ashes.

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Australia convincingly won both matches of the two-Test tour of the West Indies back in 2015.

Star bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon featured in the Caribbean a decade ago, but the other eight members of the XI have never played a Test in the region.

Australia's batting order suddenly seems very inexperienced, with Konstas and Inglis having only played two Tests each, while all-rounder Beau Webster is preparing for his fifth.

Windies pace sensation Shamar Joseph will be hoping that coming up against Australia will again bring out his best.

Joseph, in just his second Test, famously bowled the touring Windies to a famous and unlikely win over Australia at the Gabba the last time the teams played a Test, in January 2024.

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