McSweeney Dropped!, Konstas Called Up For Last Two BGT Tests

New Delhi:

THIS IS JUST IN!

Aussie opener Nathan McSweeney dropped for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Test Series. McSweeney, who debuted in the series opener in Perth, has scores 10, 0, 39, 10*, 9 and 4 in the three tests so far. He makes way for 19-year-old New South Wales opener Sam Konstas. Konstats was in the running to take up the spot left vacant by David Warner ahead of the series, but the management preferred to go with McSweeney at the start.

Konstas will walk into the dressing room on the back of an unbeaten 73 he scored against India A last month, and a 107 in the pink-ball warm-up game for the Prime Minister’s XI. He followed this up with a 88 for New South Wales against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month as well as a 27-ball 56 for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League just three days ago.

JUST IN: Australia have added young gun Sam Konstas to a 15-player squad for the final two #AUSvIND Tests | @ARamseyCricket https://t.co/9P0hGCCqXw

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 20, 2024

“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,” Chair of selectors George Bailey said.

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” We remain confident Nathan has the ability and the 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,” Bailey added.

With Josh Hazelwood ruled out, Australia have also brought back fast bowler Sean Abbot along with Beau Webster. They also added Jhye Richardson to the squad.

“In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space. It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer.”