The 19-year-old Sam Konstas has been included in the Australia squad for the fourth test of the Border Gavaskar trophy. Konstas’s inclusion comes after Nathan McSweeney has been dropped from the squad for the final two tests.
Meanwhile, pace bowler Jhye Richardson has been recalled to a test squad for the first time in three years to provide further cover following the injury to Josh Hazlewood although Scott Boland is expected to come into the Xl at the MCG.
Konstas has been shining in the domestic cricket. The 19-year-old has averaged 55.83 this summer, catapulting into contention in October when he became the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to hit twin tons in a Sheffield Shield game.
“The squad provides options as to how we structure the XI for the final two Tests of the series,” chair of selectors George Bailey said.
Read more on Australia’s squad for the final two Tests against India https://t.co/9P0hGCCqXw
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“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.
“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.
“In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space. It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer.”
Konstas has scored 107 runs against India for the Prime Minister’s Xl, a Sheffield Shield 88 for NSW. Nathan McSweeney had never opened in professional cricket before this season, has made 72 runs at 14.40 in the first three tests.
But his lights has been shattered by Jasprit Bumrah as he continued to taunt Australian batters over the tests.
However, McSweeney has not been alone in his struggles with Usman Khawaja averaging 12.60 in the series and Marnus Labuschagne 16.40 despite a half century during pink-ball test.
Pat Cummins praised McSweeney had played but acknowledged the lack of output from the top order. “I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s gone about it,” Cummins said.
“Even today, someone starting out his career still being selfless enough to go out there and try to play shots rather than try and preserve and get a score.”
“Really impressed with him, again probably hasn’t scored the runs he would have liked, but he has played some important knocks that have set up a win in Adelaide and a really good result here.”
“Obviously they [the top three] would be hoping to score more runs, we’d like them to score more runs, but I think they have made some important contributions that others have benefited from.”
The third match of the BGT ended in draw after the rain spoiled the game on day 05 and both sides have one victory each. The fourth match of the Australia-India tests will be played beginning on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia Squad for Boxing Day Test: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster