Inglis made a duck in the second Test against Sri Lanka before playing white ball matches for Australia, featuring in the IPL, and then losing his spot in the team to Cam Green for the World Test Championship final earlier this month against South Africa.
Inglis, now Test player No.470, understands heโs viewed as a subcontinent specialist and is trying not to overthink the opportunity to displace Labuschagne.
Josh Inglis and Travis Head in Sri Lanka earlier this year.Credit: Getty Images
A couple of big scores could make him undroppable.
โIโm not really thinking too much about that,โ Inglis said. โI think if youโre thinking like that, youโre probably going to come unstuck.
โI took a lot of confidence from it. Obviously on debut itโs nice to get a hundred but itโs only one game, so Iโve got to start again.
โWith this side, weโve almost got two separate sides for playing in the subcontinent and playing at home. I think it was just one of those things really.
โI havenโt had too much time to plan or train red ball cricket apart from obviously the WTC [final] a couple of weeks ago.โ
Inglis, Australiaโs white ball wicket-keeper, is likely to find himself at third slip this week, with Alex Carey once again taking the gloves. Beau Webster is poised to take Smithโs spot at second slip.
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Smith remains a chance to return for the second Test in Grenada, which could again squeeze Inglis out, but selectors wonโt rush him back.
Australia are expected to name their XI on Tuesday local time (Wednesday AEST), with the possibility of both Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann playing if selectors opt for two spinners. That would leave one of Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc on the sidelines. Both had long bowls at training on Monday.
Cumminsโ side will start as heavy favourites against a West Indies team lacking experience and batting depth.
The West Indies won their last Test against Australia in Brisbane early last year thanks to Shamar Josephโs heroics with the ball. In the Caribbean, it has been a different story, with Australia last suffering defeat in 2003.
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