The Australia Cricket Team has made a decision to drop young opener Nathan McSweeney for the IND vs AUS 4th Test in Melbourne. The opening pair of Usman Khawaja and McSweeney didn’t click and thus 19-year-old Sam Konstas would now get his time in the sun for the Boxing Day Test. Speedster Jhye Richardson too makes the cut after three long years.
This move comes after McSweeney was dismissed for 9 and 4 in the Gabba Test. The 25-year-old batter got his Test debut in this Border Gavaskar Trophy. Though not an opener, he was forced to face the wrath of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Co in these three Test matches.
Australia calls in youngster who slammed Ton against India
And now Cricket Australia has decided to make changes after the Nathan McSweeney gamble failed to work. Sam Konstas on the other hand can also be a bold move from the hosts. But to make matters easy for him, Konstas has already faced this India Cricket Team. And he has also scored a century against this Rohit Sharma-led side.
The young batter has been in stunning form off late. He notched up twin tons in the Sheffield Shield against South Australia. Sam Konstas then went on to slam a fine hundred against India playing the warmup match for Prime Minister XI.
He is expected to play in the Big Bash League for Sydney Thunders on Saturday against Sydney Sixers. And following the game he is expected to fly to Melbourne to join the Australian squad.
“It would be a dream come true. Maybe I’d get a little nervous before the game, but I’ve worked really hard for that. Hopefully, it happens one day, but we’ll see,” Sam Konstas said.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
