New Delhi: Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke criticised selectors for the manner they dropped Nathan McSweeney after a difficult start to his Test career in the Border-Gavaskar series against India.
The 25-year-old, a No.3 batter in Australia’s domestic circuit, was made to open in the first three Tests where he fell to Jasprit Bumrah four times out of his six innings.
After scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his first six innings on his debut series, the right hander was axed from the remaining two Tests of the series in Melbourne and Sydney, making way for Sam Konstas.
But the manner in which he has been dropped like a hot potato has invoked strong reactions from Clarke, who questioned the rationale behind it.
“Everyone apart from Nathan McSweeney is over 30 years of age, and (in the) high 30s. What are we going to do? Continue to give a youngster two or three games, drop him, try someone else, and keep these older players?,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast.
“What happens if Usman Khawaja in two Test matches retires? Does McSweeney then come back in, or does he go to the back of the queue?
“They (the selectors) have got to come out and say, ‘We made a mistake picking him.’ This could end Nathan McSweeney’s career. They picked him, (and) he deserved the summer.”
‘Selectors got it wrong’
Australia’s chief selector George Bailey, in particular, has come under heavy fire, with Clarke pointing out the differential treatment meted out to struggling veterans compared to newbie McSweeney.
“I think the selectors have got this wrong. We’ve got Usman Khawaja who has just turned 38, (and) Uzzie has made no runs. He’s a senior player,” he said.
“We’ve got Marnus Labuschagne, (who) we were talking about before the series, before he made his 60 — he has made no runs. Smithy (Steve Smith) batted like a genius (in Brisbane) and made a hard-fought hundred, but he’s been under pressure.
“Mitchell Marsh is in the team as the all-rounder — he bowled two overs in the (Brisbane) Test match. Selecting a player, and selecting your team, is not about right here, this minute. There is a lot more that goes into it.”
After scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his first six innings on his debut series, Nathan McSweeney was axed from the remaining two Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
