IND vs AUS: Australian team announced for the last two Tests against India, McSweeney out, these 4 players replaced

Posted on 20th Dec 2024 by rohit kumar

The Australian cricket team has made several changes to its team for the fourth and fifth Tests against India to be held in Melbourne and Sydney. These include the name of opener Nathan McSweeney, who failed in the first three Tests. McSweeney was made David Warner's replacement after his retirement. However, he did not work out and now Cricket Australia has included 19-year-old Sam Constas in the squad. Constas impressed many by scoring a century in the practice match while playing for the Prime Minister's XI against Team India in Canberra before the pink ball test in Adelaide.

 

Apart from McSweeney, Hazelwood also did not get a place.

 

McSweeney's exclusion from the team is not the only major change. Marquee fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also out of the remaining matches of the series. Hazelwood was injured in the Brisbane Test due to which he did not even take the field for the last two days of that Test. Australia has also included Sean Abbott, Jhay Richardson, and Beau Webster in the team for the last two matches of the series.

 

What did George Bailey say about McSweeney?

 

Cricket Australia selection committee chairman George Bailey said in an official statement, "The team has many options and this will help us make a perfect 11 for the remaining matches of the series. Sam has got a call-up in the Test team for the first time. His batting style provides a difference and we are looking forward to seeing his game develop further." Bailey said that Australia still believes in McSweeney's ability and the decision to exclude him from the team for the fourth and fifth Tests was a difficult decision.

 

Two options in the form of Boland and Richardson

 

He said, "We believe that Nathan can succeed at the Test level in the future. The decision to exclude him was difficult. The top-order batsmen of both the teams have been challenged throughout the series and we want to come up with a different lineup for the next two matches." Australia has two options in the form of Scott Boland and Jhay Richardson to replace Josh Hazlewood for the last two Tests.

 

Australia squad for final two Tests against India: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Constas, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Beau Webster, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson, Alex Carey, Scott Boland and Josh Inglis.

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