Axed Test opener Nathan McSweeney vows to return after ‘devastated’ rookie was dropped for Boxing Day showdown against India
- The entire top order has had a hard time
- Rookie paid the price
- Wants to show that he belongs at Test level
Nathan McSweeney has described being dropped from the Australian Test team after just three matches as devastating.
NSW teen sensation Sam Konstas will replace McSweeney as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the Boxing Day Test after being added to the Australian squad on Friday.
Neither McSweeney nor Khawaja managed a score above 40 in the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as India’s attacking weapon Jasprit Bumrah consistently made havoc of Australia’s top order.
McSweeney, who opened for Australia despite being ranked at No. 3 in the Sheffield Shield for South Australia, will team up with his Brisbane teammates for the Heat’s Big Bash League title defense.
‘Destroyed. I’m getting the dream come true, but it didn’t go quite the way I wanted,” the 25-year-old told the Seven Network on Saturday.
“It’s all part of it and I’ll put my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard and hopefully be ready to go for my next chance.
McSweeney has been dropped at the top of the Australian order after just three Tests
There is a debate going on as to whether McSweeney deserved to be dropped so quickly with the entire top order struggling against India
Chief selector George Bailey has come under fire for the panel’s decisions in the series against India
“It’s the game we’re in. If you don’t seize your opportunity and perform as well as you would like, your position is never secure. I
“I missed a few times with the bat.
‘Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take my chance, but I will work very hard to ensure that I am definitely ready when the opportunity arises again.’
McSweeney finished his first spell as an Australian player with 72 runs at an average of 14.40.
But the right-hander won plaudits for his 39 in the first innings of the Adelaide Pink Ball Test, surviving a brutal late-night session with Marnus Labuschagne to help put Australia in the box-seat.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has blasted the selection panel for dropping McSweeney.
“No matter who they picked in that opening position, they had to give him the series,” Clarke said on his Beyond23 podcast.
‘I think the selectors got it wrong.
“We have Usman Khawaja who has just turned 38, (and) Uzzie has not made any runs (63 runs at an average of 12.60 this series).
‘What happens if Usman stops Khawaja in two Test matches?
“Will McSweeney come back in, or will he go to the back of the line?”