Rookie Australia opener Nathan McSweeney admitted feeling “devastated” after being dropped for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India but vowed to work hard to reclaim his spot in the national team.
McSweeney was on Friday dropped by the national selectors, who handed a maiden call-up to teenage sensation Sam Kontas.
“Yeah, I mean devastated, I get the dream come true and then didn`t quite work the way I wanted,” McSweeney told Channel 7.
“But it`s all part of it, and I`ll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard and hopefully be ready to go for the next opportunity.”
The 25-year-old, who made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, struggled at the top with scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his six innings. He was dismissed by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah four times during the series.
“It`s the game we`re in. If you don`t take an opportunity and you`re not performing as well as you want to, your position`s never safe,” McSweeney said.
“So I missed out a few times with the bat and unfortunately wasn`t able to take my opportunity, but as I said, I`ll work really hard to make sure that if the opportunity comes around again, I`m definitely ready.”
Australia`s chairman of selectors George Bailey acknowledged the decision was “hard” and said it had been “deliberated a lot.”
However, former skipper Michael Clarke felt the move to drop McSweeney could potentially “end his career.”
McSweeney, primarily a middle-order batter, had opened for Australia A against India A before the squad for the first Test was announced. Despite his lack of experience as an opener, he had shown promise in Adelaide`s first innings, negotiating challenging conditions alongside Marnus Labuschagne.
Australia great Mike Hussey sympathised with McSweeney, calling the decision “tough.”
“I really feel for McSweeney. I think it`s tough on him. Tough call,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.
“I don`t know (if it was the right call). It`s a tough one on him. It`s not easy. The ball`s been moving around quite a lot for the openers. A lot of batters at the top of the order have been battling away.”
With all-rounder Cameron Green set to return from injury later in the year, competition for spots in the Australian middle-order is expected to intensify, making McSweeney`s path back to the team even more challenging.
(With agency inputs)
