- The entire top order has had problems
- The rookie has paid the price.
- He wants to prove that he belongs to the testing level.
Nathan McSweeney has described being dropped from Australia’s Test squad after just three matches as devastating.
New South Wales teenage sensation Sam Konstas will replace McSweeney as Usman Khawaja’s starting partner for the Boxing Day Test after being added to Australia’s squad on Friday.
Neither McSweeney nor Khawaja scored above 40 in the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as India’s attacking weapon Jasprit Bumrah continually blighted Australia’s top order.
McSweeney, who opened for Australia despite batting at No.3 in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia, will join his Brisbane teammates for the Heat’s Big Bash League title defence.
‘Devastated. “I fulfilled the dream and then it didn’t turn out the way I wanted,” the 25-year-old told the Seven Network on Saturday.
“It’s all part of this and I’m going to put my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard, and hopefully I’ll be ready to take my next opportunity.”
McSweeney has been eliminated after just three Tests at the top of the Australian order
There has been debate as to whether McSweeney deserved to be dropped so early with the entire top order struggling against India.
Coach George Bailey criticized for panel decisions in series against India
“It’s the game we’re in. If you don’t take advantage of your opportunity and aren’t performing as well as you’d like, your position will never be secure.” Yo
‘I got lost a few times with the bat.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t take advantage of my opportunity, but I will work very hard to make sure that if the opportunity presents itself again, I am definitely ready.”
McSweeney finished his first spell as an Australian player with 72 runs at an average of 14.40.
But the right-hander earned plaudits for his 39 in the first innings of Adelaide’s pink-ball Test, surviving a brutal night session with Marnus Labuschagne to help put Australia in the box.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke attacked the selection panel for dropping McSweeney.
“It didn’t matter who they picked for that starting position, they had to give him the series,” Clarke said on his Beyond23 podcast.
“I think the selectors have made a mistake on this.
‘We have Usman Khawaja, who has just turned 38, (and) Uzzie has not made any runs (63 runs at an average of 12.60 in this series).
‘What if Usman Khawaja retires in two Test matches?
—Does McSweeney come back in or stay at the back of the line?