Australia’s Nathan McSweeney watches the ball after playing a shot during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke said that the selectors were wrong to drop Nathan McSweeney in the middle of the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.
“Nathan McSweeney has been dropped. I can’t believe that. No matter who they picked in that opening position, they had to give them the series. I think the selectors have got this wrong. We’ve got Usman Khawaja who is 38 years old, he’s made no runs. He’s a senior player,” Clarke said on the ‘Beyond 23 Cricket’ podcast.
McSweeney, who debuted in the 1st Test against India at Perth last month, has scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9 and 4 in his six innings while Khawaja has 8, 4, 13, 9 not out, 21 and 8 in the three Tests.
The 25-year-old was on Friday replaced by Sam Konstas for the next two Tests against India.
“You are opening the batting in Perth, day-night Test in Adelaide and the Gabba… toughest places in the world to open. He made an unreal 40 (39) in Adelaide…that will be the toughest batting conditions he will ever face in batting in his career… swing, seam, Bumrah, the number one bowler in the world, running in to bowl that was his second Test match,” Clarke said.
Clarke also slammed the selectors asking whether they would treat the underperforming seniors in the series in the same manner.
“We’ve got Marnus Labuschagne, who we were talking about before the series, before he made a 60. He has made no runs. Smith batted like a genius and made a hard-fought 100 here, but he’s been under pressure. Everyone apart from McSweeney is over 30 years of age, and high 30s,” Clarke said.
“Are we going to keep giving youngsters two or three games and then try someone else and keep these older players? What happens if Usman Khawaja retires in two Test matches? Does McSweeney then come back in or does he go to the back of the queue? This could end his career,” he added.
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