Australia axe McSweeney, call up teen Konstas for fourth Test against India

Opener Nathan McSweeney was dropped from Australia’s squad for the fourth Test against India on Friday, with teenager Sam Konstas getting his first call-up.

Fast bowler Jhye Richardson was also included in the 15-man lineup to give the team more options with Josh Hazlewood sidelined by a right calf injury.

The two sides are locked at 1-1 in the five-Test series with India needing one more win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

McSweeney had played in all three Tests so far after winning the race to replace the retired David Warner at the top of the order alongside Usman Khawaja.

But the 25-year-old, who is not a specialist opener, struggled to assert himself, particularly against Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

His highest score was 39 and he was dismissed for nine and four in the third Test at Brisbane.

In contrast, 19-year-old Konstas has been in sizzling domestic form with calls mounting to bring him into the international fold.

Earlier this season, he became the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score two centuries in the same Sheffield Shield match.

He also slammed a century playing for the Prime Minister’s XI against India in Canberra.

His inclusion does not necessarily mean he will play, with reserve batsman Josh Inglis also a potential opening partner for Khawaja.

“Sam gets a call up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out.

“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line up for the next two matches,” he added.

Despite Richardson returning to the squad after a wretched run with injuries, Scott Boland is widely expected to replace Hazlewood in the starting XI alongside fellow quicks Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

“In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space,” said Bailey.

“It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer.”

India hope misfiring top order will come good: A jailbreak at the Gabba has brought a palpable sense of relief in the India camp, while giving rise to hope their misfiring top order will finally come good in more batting-friendly conditions in the final two tests against Australia.

India snatched a draw in the rain-blighted third test in Brisbane despite yet another top order debacle that left them reeling at 74-5 in reply to Australia’s 445.

Number seven batter Ravindra Jadeja inspired a spirited rearguard action and India’s final pair of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah combined in a 47-run partnership to stave off follow-on.

While India managed to keep the five-test series level at 1-1 heading into the Boxing day test in Melbourne, the fragility of their top order remains a major concern for the tourists.

In five completed innings so far in the series, only once have India managed an opening stand of more than 12 runs.

The lone exception came in the second innings of the series opener in Perth where Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul forged a 201-run partnership to set up their comprehensive victory.

The poor starts meant on three out of those five occasions, India posted sub-200 scores, including twice in the day-night second test in Adelaide, which Australia won by 10 wickets.

There is a growing feeling in the camp, though, that the worst is behind them and that batting will be easier in the last two tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Whatever happened today, it gave us confidence ahead of Melbourne,” India captain Rohit Sharma told reporters on Wednesday.

Agencies