Australia's opening batter for the first three matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25 Tests, Nathan McSweeney, has been dropped from the squad for the Boxing Day Test.
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The fourth Test of the five-match series against India is set to be played after Christmas, starting on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The series which is currently tied 1-1 after results at Perth, Adelaide and a draw at Brisbane, is expected to witness a thrilling finish and the Aussies are determined to bring the trophy back home.
Best performers in BGT 2024/25 Tests: Top 5 run scorers | Top 5 wicket-takers
Why was Nathan McSweeney dropped for the last BGT Test at Melbourne and Sydney?
South Australia's captain McSweeney who made his Australia Test debut in the ongoing BGT series against India, was selected as an opener, despite being a predominantly middle-order batter in the Sheffield Shield.
The 25-year-old was in fine form in the Shield, having scored two fifties and a century to start the season.
However, he has been unable to replicate the same performances against India due to a couple of factors.
- Lack of experience as an opener
- Quality of the India's new ball pace-attack (read: Jasprit Bumrah)
- Pressure of making debut in the most important Test series of this calendar year.
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The xAverage of the balls McSweeney has faced in his Test career so far is 18.6.
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) December 20, 2024
That's the lowest figure for any batter (min 200 balls) in the @CricViz database, back to 2006.
Essentially, the sustained quality of bowling he's faced is the toughest of anyone in the data era. https://t.co/ibTOMGpyk3
What is Nathan McSweeney's record against Jasprit Bumrah?
McSweeney has batted a total of 6 times in the ongoing Test series against India and averages just 3.8 runs per wicket against India's talisman quick, Jasprit Bumrah.
| Innings | Dismissed | Runs scored | Balls faced | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 4 | 15 | 66 | 3.8 |
How did Nathan McSweeney perform in BGT 2024/25 Tests?
McSweeney has managed to score just 76 runs in the 3 Tests with a batting average of 14.4 runs per wicket.
| Innings | Runs | Average | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 76 | 14.40 | 39 |
Sam Konstas named as replacement for McSweeney and is set for Test debut at MCG
The 19-year-old has averaged 55.83 in the Shield for NSW and also became youngest player since Ricky Ponting to hit twin tons in a Sheffield Shield game.
Konstas has scored 107 against India for the Prime Minister's XI before the 2nd pink-ball at Adelade, and a quickfire 56 for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), earlier this week.
He has now replaced McSweeney and is highly likely to get hold of the baggy green at MCG and potentially getting another opportunity to play at his home-ground in Sydney, during the fifth.
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Moreover, Konstas has been in close touch with former Aussie opener David Warner at the Big Bash, where they are teammates playing for the Thunder.
The teenager revealed that he has been getting invaluable tips from the veteran.
"I'm trying to learn from him each time I bat with him. He's taught me to try to be fearless and take the game on. Whatever happens, happens," Konstas told Daily Mail.
Australia squad for Boxing Day Test vs India
Australia's likely playing XI at MCG and SCG:
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Travis Head
- Mitchell Marsh
- Alex Carey (WK)
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Scott Boland
Bench:
- Josh Inglis
- Sean Abbbot
- Jhye Richardson
- Beau Webster
- Josh Hazlewood (doubtful injury)
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