Michael Clarke whacks selectors over Nathan McSweeney axing

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has given both barrels to the selectors over one decision that sparked fierce backlash.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has delivered both barrels to the Test selectors after Nathan McSweeney was axed from the squad.

The 25-year-old only made his debut in the opening Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, but was let go following the third Test.

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McSweeney was officially dropped from the Australian squad on Friday, with a 15-man squad being named for the final two Tests of the series against India.

News of McSweeney being axed sparked fierce backlash among the cricket community with chief selector George Bailey finding himself under heavy fire.

Clarke weighed in on the shock axing and put the selectors on the hot seat for failing to think about the future.

“Everyone apart from Nathan McSweeney is over 30 years of age, and (in the) high 30s. What are we going to do? Continue to give a youngster two or three games, drop him, try someone else, and keep these older players?,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

“What happens if Usman Khawaja in two Test matches retires? Does McSweeney then come back in, or does he go to the back of the queue?

“They (the selectors) have got to come out and say, ‘We made a mistake picking him.’ This could end Nathan McSweeney’s career. They picked him, (and) he deserved the summer.”

Clarke took aim at the selectors. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

McSweeney was let go after three Tests. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Irate fans were also quick to point the finger at fellow opener Usman Khawaja who has struggled to have any impact on the series thus far.

Clarke believes the call to keep Khawaja and remove McSweeney was a mistake and one of the senior players should have been cut.

“I think the selectors have got this wrong. We’ve got Usman Khawaja who has just turned 38, (and) Uzzie has made no runs. He’s a senior player,” he said.

“We’ve got Marnus Labuschagne, (who) we were talking about before the series, before he made his 60 — he has made no runs.

“Smithy (Steve Smith) batted like a genius (in Brisbane) and made a hard-fought hundred, but he’s been under pressure.

“Mitchell Marsh is in the team as the all-rounder — he bowled two overs in the (Brisbane) Test match.

“Selecting a player, and selecting your team, is not about right here, this minute. There is a lot more that goes into it.”

Marnus has had one good innings. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Khawaja has struggled in a major way. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

McSweeney opened up on his axing from the Australian Test squad, detailing his heartbreak over the call but hoping to make his way back into the baggy green in the future.

“I mean, (I’m) devastated, the dream (had) come true and then didn’t quite work out the way I wanted,” he told 7 News Adelaide on Saturday.

“But, it’s all part of it — I’ll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard, and hopefully be ready to go for my next opportunity.”

“It’s the game we are in. If you don’t take your opportunity, and you are not performing as well as you want to, your position is never safe.

“So, I missed out a few times with the bat. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take my opportunity but, as I said, I will work really hard to make sure, if the opportunity comes around again, I am definitely ready.”

The fourth Test between Australia and India will commence on Boxing Day at the MCG.

Originally published as Michael Clarke whacks selectors over Nathan McSweeney axing