Jackson Barrett: The World Test Championship final must be treated like a one-off match in a schedule vacuum

Australia’s World Test Championship defence could hardly be more different to its first crack at the final. Two years ago, the showpiece decider against India raised the curtain on an Ashes series that carried more weight. But this cycle’s crescendo will be played in a vacuum. While there is a home Ashes series on the horizon, Australia’s next assignment is a tour of the West Indies that presents are rare opportunity for development. This truly is a one-off event and the team should be picked that way. Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Konstas and Cam Green have all been picked, along with likely reserve batter Josh Inglis. But four will have to squeeze into two. Selectors have invested heavily in Green and they trust him. But whether or not he is up for coming straight back in — and likely batting at No.3 — will play out in his final two county matches for Gloucestershire after a lean run in recent weeks. It makes sense for Konstas — who we fell for during the summer — to not play the final. He has never played at this level in English conditions, as much as selectors wanted him to, and seemed to battle a cricketing identity crisis in the final month of the season. But it doesn’t make sense for Konstas not to play beyond this final. The hop around the Caribbean is the perfect opportunity to ensconce him at the top of the order, likely alongside Usman Khawaja after his run feast in Sri Lanka, ahead of the Ashes series. It’s the start of a new cycle where he will be key. And don’t even discount Marcus Harris, who has made 749 runs at 83.22 so far this county season. The squad can be tweaked until the end of the month and if he’s the best man for the job on deadline day, sobeit. Exposing Konstas, Inglis and all-rounders Beau Webster and Cooper Connolly last summer was a step forward in the regeneration of the Test team. Selectors need to choose a team to win the World Test Championship final, but not become too wedded to it. Because it almost certainly won’t be the right team to win a home Ashes series.