Australia include Sam Konstas in the side for Boxing Day test in Melbourne in place of struggling Nathan McSweeney.
Australia include teenage sensation Sam Konstas in the side for the upcoming Boxinf Day test. The 19-year-old opener is now in the frame for a debut in Melbourne with Australia set to make changes to their struggling top order.
For Australia’s final two Test matches against India, Nathan McSweeney has been left out of the squad. Although Scott Boland is anticipated to enter the starting lineup at the MCG, pace bowler Jhye Richardson has also been called up to a Test team for the first time in three years to offer additional backup after Josh Hazlewood’s injury.
It is uncertain if Konstas will play on Boxing Day in Melbourne, despite the fact that he has been added due to a recent run of success after being ignored at the beginning of the series. Josh Inglis, the team’s spare batter thus far in the series, is still available and might be a choice if the selectors decide to use their imagination.
Konstas has a good chance of making his debut at the MCG in front of over 90,000 spectators as a specialist opener. He has been identified as a future international player since his junior days. But if he plays, it will only be his 12th first-class match. It will make him the fourth-youngest debutant for Australia in men’s Tests.
“First and foremost, [want to] acknowledge that it’s a tough call on Nathan, particularly after three Tests,” Bailey told reporters. “We are constantly getting new information as you guys are… It’s clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for both teams. Think Sam’s method, his style, is different to Nathan’s. Different again to Beau’s and Josh’s, as the other batting options within that team. We think they provide the options of a different look and a different make-up for the XI come Boxing Day.”
Bailey delivered the news to both McSweeney and Konstas personally. “[It was a] really hard decision for Nathan and one that we spent a lot of time deliberating over,” he said. “Particularly after a small sample size of three Tests… That’s never a great phone call, is it? Nathan was disappointed and really the message to him was much the same as at the start of the series. That we believe he has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level. But just given the way the series has played out. We just want the option of throwing something different at India for this next Test.”