Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich has voiced his disagreement with the decision to drop Nathan McSweeney from Australia’s lineup for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite limited runs in the series, Katich believes McSweeney’s contributions were valuable in difficult batting conditions.
Australia initially selected McSweeney, who typically bats in the middle order, to open the innings in the series. However, following a disappointing return of 72 runs across six innings, the South Australian captain was left out for the remaining matches, starting with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. New South Wales teenager Sam Konstas has been called up to replace him, earning his maiden Test squad selection.
Criticism of the Decision
The move to promote McSweeney to opener had already sparked debate, and the decision to drop him midway through the series has drawn further criticism. Katich, speaking on SEN Radio, expressed his concerns about the lack of consistency in team selection.
“It’s a tough call. From a consistency standpoint, it doesn’t feel right,” Katich said. “The conditions throughout this series have been challenging, and several top-order batters from both sides have struggled to deal with the moving ball.”
He highlighted that India’s top-order, barring performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, has also faced difficulties, as has McSweeney’s opening partner, Usman Khawaja, despite his experience.
A Vital Role Despite Low Scores
Katich defended McSweeney’s role in the series, emphasizing that his efforts at the top allowed middle-order stalwarts like Steve Smith and Travis Head to thrive.
“In the Gabba Test, McSweeney and the top order absorbed a lot of pressure from Bumrah and the new ball. That set the stage for Smith and Head to perform in the middle order,” he explained. “Even if McSweeney didn’t score heavily, he was crucial in protecting the middle order during challenging periods.”
He pointed out McSweeney’s ability to face prolonged spells at the crease, notably lasting until the 37th over in the Adelaide Test and the 19th over in Brisbane, as a key contribution in shielding the middle-order batters from early exposure.
Backing Sam Konstas
While Katich disagreed with McSweeney’s omission, he acknowledged the potential of 19-year-old Sam Konstas. “I can understand why they’ve turned to Konstas. He was already in the selectors’ plans before the season started,” Katich noted. “I hope he takes this opportunity and performs well.”
Series Decider at the MCG
With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tied 1-1, the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test in Melbourne promises to be a high-stakes affair. Both teams will be keen to secure a series lead, making selection decisions like McSweeney’s exclusion even more significant.
