- Saturday, April 19, 2025
McSweeney was dropped by the national selectors after playing two tests, and replaced by teenage sensation Sam Konstas for the Melbourne Test
By: Shajil Kumar
ROOKIE Australia opener Nathan McSweeney admitted feeling “devastated” after being dropped for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, but vowed to work hard to reclaim his spot in the national team.
McSweeney was on Friday dropped by the national selectors, who handed a maiden call-up to teenage sensation Sam Konstas.
“Yeah, I mean devastated, I get the dream come true and then didn’t quite work the way I wanted,” McSweeney told Channel 7.
“But it’s all part of it, and I’ll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard and hopefully be ready to go for the next opportunity.”
The 25-year-old, who made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, struggled at the top with scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his six innings. He was dismissed by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah four times during the series.
“It’s the game we’re in. If you don’t take an opportunity and you’re not performing as well as you want to, your position’s never safe,” McSweeney said.
“So I missed out a few times with the bat and unfortunately wasn’t able to take my opportunity, but as I said, I’ll work really hard to make sure that if the opportunity comes around again, I’m definitely ready.”
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Konstas is set to become Australia’s youngest Test batting debutant in over 70 years.
If Konstas, who turned 19 on October 2, is selected in the playing XI in the Boxing Day Test, he would become Australia’s youngest Test debutant since captain Pat Cummins, who was 18 years and 193 days old when he made his debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011.
The teenager would also become the youngest specialist batter to debut for Australia since Ian Craig when he played against South Africa at the MCG in 1953 aged 17 years 239 days.
Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey acknowledged the decision to drop McSweeney was “hard” and said it had been “deliberated a lot.”
“Sam gets a call up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further,” Bailey added.
However, former skipper Michael Clarke felt the move to drop McSweeney could potentially “end his career.”
McSweeney, primarily a middle-order batter, had opened for Australia A against India A before the squad for the first Test was announced. Despite his lack of experience as an opener, he had shown promise in Adelaide’s first innings, negotiating challenging conditions alongside Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia great Mike Hussey sympathised with McSweeney, calling the decision “tough.”
“I really feel for McSweeney. I think it’s tough on him. Tough call,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.
“I don’t know (if it was the right call). It’s a tough one on him. It’s not easy. The ball’s been moving around quite a lot for the openers. A lot of batters at the top of the order have been battling away.”
Former pacer and ex-selector Merv Hughes had cautioned selectors against making any changes to the batting lineup for the Boxing Day Test.
“Now it would almost be a panic call to me… Just stay calm. They (India) drew the last Test. The last two Tests have been a draw and a win, so what is there to panic about,” Hughes had told ‘The Courier Mail’.
With all-rounder Cameron Green set to return from injury later in the year, competition for spots in the Australian middle-order is expected to intensify, making McSweeney’s path back to the team even more challenging. (PTI)
