Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich has slammed the decision to drop Nathan McSweeney from the Australian squad for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stating that it was a hasty call that lacked consistency. McSweeney, who had been asked to open the batting for Australia despite being a middle-order batter, was axed after just three matches, having scored 72 runs from six innings.
Katich expressed his disappointment with the move, speaking on SEN Radio. “It’s a tough one. I think it’s not right from a consistency perspective,” he said, pointing out that several top-order batters from both teams struggled with the moving ball in difficult conditions. McSweeney’s partner, Usman Khawaja, also faced difficulties, despite his experience.
The former Aussie batsman also emphasized that McSweeney’s role in the team was more than just about the runs he scored. “I think he did a really important job in allowing Steve Smith and Travis Head to thrive in the middle order by absorbing pressure,” Katich explained, referring to McSweeney’s resilience during the earlier matches, where he held his ground against the new ball.
While Katich disagreed with the decision to drop McSweeney, he acknowledged the inclusion of Sam Konstas, who earned his maiden call-up to the squad. “I understand why they picked the young kid Konstas, he was in the frame before the start of the summer,” Katich concluded, showing support for the new selection.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains tied 1-1, with the series resuming in Melbourne on December 26 for the Boxing Day Test.
