Sam Konstas named in Boxing Day Test squad to play India, Nathan McSweeney dropped

Nathan McSweeney has been axed just three matches into his Test career, paving the way for Sam Konstas to debut in the Boxing Day Test. SEE THE FULL SQUAD HERE

• SuperCoach BBL: What Test squad means for your trades
• Analysis: Selectors deserve praise for brave Konstas call

A desire to have a left-hander at the top of the order helped ensure Usman Khawaja was never seriously on the chopping block as Nathan McSweeney paid the price for a one-paced and struggling Australian top order.

The move has paved the way for teen tyro Sam Konstas to become the youngest opener in Australia’s Test history if he lines up against India at the MCG on Boxing Day following his maiden call-up.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday that McSweeney had been left out of a 15-man squad for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests that also includes fit-again paceman Jhye Richardson.

McSweeney had averaged just 14.40 across six innings for the series, four times falling to Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah.

Sam Konstas is seen as the future of the Australian top order.

Konstas starred on BBL debut for Sydney Thunder.

He had plenty of company when it came to struggling batters though, with fellow opener Khawaja and teammates Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh all averaging less than 20 for the series.

Selection chair George Bailey acknowledged that Khawaja, McSweeney and Labuschagne – all of whom are striking at less than 50 for the series – were relatively alike and that there was a desire to inject a more attacking player into the mix, making Konstas, Inglis and Webster all viable options.

“The way our top three are playing has been reasonably similar. And we’d like the ability to throw something different at India on the back of that,” Bailey said.

“I think you look more broadly, I don’t think necessarily the top six has quite functioned to the to the level that we that we need in this series as a whole.”

Though stressing that McSweeney still had a bright future in international cricket and that it had been a difficult decision to make, Bailey explained why it was the newcomer rather than the older heads who made way.

“I think you’re always looking for your senior players to be the leaders in how you play. Specifically to Uz, we value the left hand at the top of the order. There wasn’t a great deal of consideration to moving him,” Bailey said of 38-year-old Khawaja, who has reached 50 just once in eight Tests this year.

When it came to Labuschagne, Bailey pointed to a need for the former No. 1 ranked Test batter to play a more up-tempo style.

“I guess Marn as the other part of that top three. I think he’s been on record saying he’d like to be scoring more runs. We’d love him to be scoring more runs. But I think I’ll back up what (coach) Andrew (McDonald) said I think post-Perth as much with Marn, it’s about the methods and intent as it is the outcome. “

The door remains ajar for Josh Inglis or Beau Webster to be unleashed in next week’s high-stakes fourth Test after the panel opted against publicly locking in a replacement in the XI for the dumped McSweeney.

In a move set to fuel days of speculation about the ultimate make-up of the Aussie side to face India at the MCG, Bailey said the squad had left selectors with “options” for the XI for the remaining rubbers in the series.

Though Konstas is a specialist opener, there remains scope for Inglis or Webster to be preferred or for the order to be rejigged once more.

Fringe quick Brendan Doggett has also been omitted, with West Australian Richardson in the mix to play what would be his first Test in more than three years.

Scott Boland is almost certain however to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood for the Melbourne clash.

McSweeney’s first innings 39 helped pave the way for an Australian victory in Adelaide although he had been dropped on three in that innings.

McSweeney and Konstas were both members of the Australia A squad that faced India A before the Test series as part of the so-called “bat-off” for the opening vacancy this summer after Steve Smith dropped back to No. 4 following the season-ending injury to Cameron Green.

Here's every boundary from Sam Konstas' debut knock, 56 runs from just 27 deliveries 🔥 #BBL14https://t.co/kSnvyNPuyMpic.twitter.com/NQNa7UG2gI

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2024

Konstas was unable to do enough to get picked ahead of McSweeney, who had never been used as an opener in first-class cricket before the second Australia A match.

However the young gun – a protege of former Aussie star Shane Watson – has been in strong form in recent weeks, making a century against the tourists in a pink ball Prime Minister’s XI clash at Manuka Oval before an 88 in the Sheffield Shield for NSW and an impressive debut half-century for the Thunder against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday night.

Should he face the new ball in Melbourne, Konstas would surpass Archie Jackson as the youngest Australian Test opener.

The series is locked at 1-1, and Australia must win the series outright to take the Border-Gavaskar Trophy off India.

The Aussies would be mindful not to rely on the final Test in Sydney – where tickets are sold out for the first three days – for a clutch victory given the city’s unfortunate recent history with rain interruptions.

Originally published as Sam Konstas named in Boxing Day Test squad to play India, Nathan McSweeney dropped