Nathan McSweeney dropped from Australia’s Test squad for Sam Konstas while Jhye Richardson returns

National selectors have explained why an Australian Test selection experiment has been cut short in a move that throws the door open for a teenager to debut.

Australian head selector George Bailey says boom teenager Sam Konstas offers “a point of difference” after ending the experiment with Nathan McSweeney as a Test opener only three games in.

Konstas is on the cusp of a Boxing Day Test debut after he was named in a 15-man squad for the fourth Test on Friday, which also includes fast bowlers Jhye Richardson and Sean Abbott and all-rounder Beau Webster.

Bailey said McSweeney had endured a challenging start to his Test career, which has included five scores under 10 in six innings, and that change was needed.

“Sam (Konstas) 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 said.

Makeshift Test opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped from Australia’s squad after three games. Picture: David Gray / AFP

“We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out.

“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line up for the next two matches.”

McSweeney’s gritty first innings 39 in Adelaide helped shield Travis Head from the pink ball under lights before his matchwinning 140 the following day, but he struggled to score against Jasprit Bumrah across his six innings, falling to him four times as he made just 72 runs at 14.40.

Scott Boland is poised to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s bowling attack, but Richardson has re-entered calculations three years since the injury-prone speedster last played Test cricket.

“In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space,” Bailey said.

“It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer.”

Usman Khawaja held his spot ahead of McSweeney, with either Konstas to partner the left-hander or another reshuffle of the batting order to come to accommodate existing reserve batter Josh Inglis.

After beginning the summer with twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield, Konstas’ rich vein of form has continued with three consecutive scores of more than 50 in his last three innings, including a century against India for the Prime Minister’s XI in a pink-ball game at Manuka Oval.

He showed off a vast repertoire of scoring shots as he smashed eight fours and two sixes in a debut innings of 56 (27) for the Sydney Thunder at the same ground on Tuesday.

The right-hander fended away speculation that he was on the cusp of a Test debut when he spoke to reporters at Sydney Thunder training on Thursday but said it would be “a dream come true” to make his debut in front of a sold-out crowd at the MCG.

Sam Konstas has only played 11 first-class games, but the 19-year-old could make his Test debut at the MCG on Boxing Day. Picture: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

“Maybe I’d get a little nervous before the game, but I’ve worked really hard for that,” he said.

“Hopefully, it happens one day, but we’ll see.”

Thunder teammate Daniel Sams said the teenager had looked “unflappable” in the early stages of his professional career.

“I think he’s just fearless,” Sams said.

“At his young age, he probably hasn’t had much failure, so it’s just (a case) of go out there and see ball, hit ball.

“He showed that it’s not necessarily (just) potential because he’s consistently performing now.

“At such a young age he’s got a level head on his shoulders. I haven’t spent a heap of time with him … but from the little bit I have been involved, he just seems unflappable for someone so young.

“I’m really excited to see what he does for us for the rest of the season and moving forward with his career.”

Originally published as Nathan McSweeney dropped from Australia’s Test squad for Sam Konstas while Jhye Richardson returns