Australia have made a surprising change to their 15-man test squad for the third Test against India, replacing opener Nathan McSweeney with 19-year-old Sam Konstas. Despite only scoring 72 runs in his three-test debut, McSweeney was praised for his strong batting technique against a tough Indian bowling attack. Konstas, who has been impressive in domestic cricket and was the youngest player to score a half-century on his BBL debut, will provide a much-needed new option for Australia's struggling batting lineup. National selection panel chairman George Bailey cited Konstas's ability to take on India's fast bowlers, as well as McSweeney's low strike rate, as reasons for the surprising change.
In a surprising move, Australia has replaced opener Nathan McSweeney with 19-year-old Sam Konstas for the third Test against India. The decision has sent shockwaves through the cricket world, considering Konstas' lack of experience at the international level.
Background
Nathan McSweeney made his Test debut in the second Test against India and performed admirably, accumulating 72 runs. However, his low strike rate of 40.42 raised concerns about his ability to accelerate Australia's scoring rate.
Sam Konstas' Credentials
Konstas has been a standout performer in domestic cricket for New South Wales. In the 2022/23 Sheffield Shield season, he scored 534 runs at an average of 44.50, with three centuries.
He also made history in the Big Bash League (BBL) by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century on debut.
Reasons for the Change
National selection panel chairman George Bailey explained that Konstas' ability to take on India's fast bowlers was a key factor in his selection. Bailey also pointed out McSweeney's low strike rate as a reason for the change.
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