The Australia batter was dropped from the Test team following the Brisbane Test and was replaced by Sam Konstas, who will make his debut for the Baggy Greens in Melbourne Test
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said that he does feel for young Australia batter Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped from the squad following disappointing batting displays in the first 3 Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series.
McSweeney opened in the first three Tests against India but made just 72 runs at an average of 14.40, despite not having opened previously in first-class cricket. On Friday, the Australian selectors dropped McSweeney to draft in teenage opener Sam Konstas.
“I feel for Nathan, I think he’ll be back – but I totally understand why Australia made this move. I feel for the kid, because of all the people that I’ve seen come into Test cricket over the last 10 years, I don’t think anyone’s been given a harder challenge,” Vaughan told Fox Sports.
“To face Bumrah in the conditions that he’s had to face now, the pink ball under lights in his second game, in Perth it did all sorts and in Brisbane the ball was moving around. I thought they’d go with McSweeney for Melbourne, and if he failed again, they’d bring Sam (Konstas) in for his home Test at the SCG,” Vaughan added.
“I don’t think in the long run it’s going to be a bad thing for McSweeney. I think he will end up being an Australian Test cricketer, but I don’t think he’ll be up the top of the order; I think it’ll be down at four or five. If I was McSweeney, next time I get the chance to wear the baggy green, I’d want him to be in the position that he’s played all his life,” Vaughan further added.
Meanwhile, Konstas was brought into the squad following his twin centuries against South Australia. in the Sheffield Shield, making him the first batter to do so since the legendary batter Ricky Ponting, who achieved the feat back in 1993.
Vaughan also spoke on how Konstas will be able to cope against India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who ‘has had a number of the Australian batters.’
“Bumrah has had a number of the Australian batters… but I think in Sam Konstas, it’s very clear that he’s going to be a star of the future. I’ve never been a big believer in: ‘What damage can be done to a 19-year-old?’ They’re all just youthful, and all they ever think about is positivity, there’s no baggage. It’s quite exciting when you’ve got a young kid who can clearly play, so what’s the worst thing that can happen – he gets not many runs? Well, that’s been happening anyway,” Vaughan said.
“If he goes out and gets an innings under his belt against Bumrah’s quality, then you start talking about a seriously high-class player. From a very young age, he’s scored hundreds and he knows how to score hundred,” Vaughan added.
