Australian opener Nathan McSweeney has finally broken his silence on being dropped from the Test squad for the remainder of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India. McSweeney failed to make an impact in the first three Tests against India and paid the price.
The South Australian cricketer admitted that he is heartbroken after being dropped from the Test squad but expressed his strong desire to fight for a place in the team again. Nathan McSweeney struggled in his first three Tests, managing only 72 runs across six innings against India.
Nathan McSweeney opens up about being dropped from Australia’s Test squad
However, the ongoing five-match Test series was McSweeney’s debut series, and he batted in the challenging conditions, but the Australian selectors were looking for more fire from the top order, especially against a fierce bowler like Jasprit Bumrah, and he had to make way for the 19-year-old Sam Konstas.
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Despite the setback, Nathan McSweeney is determined to bounce back. However, McSweeney admitted that he missed the opportunities given to him, and spots in the national team are never guaranteed if players fail to make an impact. Notably, McSweeney was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah four times in his six innings in the ongoing BGT 2024-25.
I’ll get my head down, go back to the nets, says devastated McSweeney
With the ongoing five-match Test series tied 1-1, the Australian selectors made the tough decision to bring in the young batting sensation Sam Konstas for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year’s Test at the SCG against India. It is being said that Konstas will make his debut in the fourth Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26.
Nathan McSweeney was quoted as saying by Channel 7: “Devastated. It would have been a dream come true but didn’t quite work out the way I wanted. I’ll get my head down, go back to the nets, and work really hard and hopefully be ready to go for my next opportunity.
“I think that’s the game we’re in: if you are not performing, not taking your opportunity, your position is never safe. I missed out a few times with the bat and unfortunately wasn’t able to take my opportunity. But as I said, I’ll work really hard to make sure if the opportunity comes again, I’ll definitely be ready.”
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It was a really hard decision for Nathan McSweeney: George Bailey
Earlier, George Bailey, the chair of selectors, admitted that it was a tough call to drop McSweeney, especially after only three Tests. However, Bailey stressed that the national selectors still believed that the young opener had the ability and temperament to taste success in Test cricket.
George Bailey stated, “It was a really hard decision for Nathan and one that we spent a lot of time deliberating over. 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.”