The inclusion of Sam Konstas in the Australian side, having replaced opener Nathan McSweeney, has been on the minds of every one. The inclusion of Konstas has had contrasting views amongst former cricketers, Mark Vaugh and Michael Hussey as the former believes that it was imperative to drop Nathan McSweeney and go for a more aggressive option, given that the top order has not produced desired results. Hussey, on the other hand, was of the belief that dropping McSweeney was a “very tough call,” ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
Waugh is certain that Sam Konstas will be set to open for Australia, with the thought process that a positive strokeplay is required at the top.
“He’ll open, I reckon he’s a certainty to open,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“I think they’ve selected him with the thought process that they need a bit more positive stroke play at the top of the order, particularly with Usman and Marnus struggling slightly.
“Nathan McSweeney wasn’t scoring either. So I think the young, more aggressive player will play for sure.”
While the former Australian opener does believe that it is a great opportunity for teenager Konstas, he feels that throwing McSweeney under the bus after just three games was a very tough call.
“I mean, it’s exciting for Sam. Great opportunity for him, but it is a tough call because it hasn’t been easy for the opening batters from either team.
“The ball’s been moving around a bit. It’s not going to be that easy just to come out and be really aggressive against someone like Bumrah on pitches that have got plenty in it.”
While he does agree that the openers have not been scoring runs, Hussey also looked at the positives of what the top order offered for the middle order, allowing them to take an attacking approach against India’s spearhead, and have dominated the series other than the first Test.
Nathan McSweeney was dropped from the squad ahead after the Brisbane Test (Cricket Australia)
“I mean, you can look at it both ways. The top order, yes, they haven’t been scoring, but they’ve been chewing up a bit of time to allow guys like Travis Head and Alex Carey to come in and play their natural game.”
For Australia, it is as vital to win the series as it is for India, and Waugh feels that they have kept that in mind, giving it more importance than the future, which led to the decision of this change in squad.
“They’re not worrying about the future as much. You always keep an eye on the future, but this is a huge series and you’ve got the World Test Championship, that carrot dangling away as well.
“So I think the selectors, they’re thinking about the MCG Test and the SCG Test.
The teenager had scored a scintillating century in the match between India and the Prime Minister’s XI, but the match was played without India’s ace player of the series so far, Jasprit Bumrah. This face-off would happen if Sam Konstas makes his way into the side, and to open for Australia in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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