Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

Nathan McSweeney will be dropped for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald. Daniel Brettig and Tom Decent previously reported that the selectors could look for a more aggressive option up top to tackle Jasprit Bumrah, who has been dominant in this series with 21 wickets at 10.90.

“According to sources close to the team, speaking on the condition of anonymity, McSweeney’s spot in the XI is not guaranteed for Melbourne after passing 10 just once in six innings,” the initial report read. “Australia may opt for a more proactive approach at the top of the order given Bumrah has been able to dictate terms.”

On Friday morning, Tom Decent and Andrew Wu reported that McSweeney is set to be dropped. “Nathan McSweeney is set to be dropped from Australia’s Test squad for the Boxing Day Test, with NSW young gun Sam Konstas poised for a call-up,” the report read.

“Sources with knowledge of selection, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they do not have permission to discuss selections, have indicated that McSweeney won’t feature for Australia in the fourth Test. The 25-year-old has been informed of the decision.”

Selectors drop Nathan McSweeney for Boxing Day – report

Nathan McSweeney has found the going tough this series, scoring 72 runs in three Tests at an average of 14.40. He has fought hard across 212 balls, doing his best to get through the new ball period and set up a platform for Travis Head, with his effort under lights in Adelaide a promising display.

McSweeney’s start to his Test career is the worst of any Australian opener in the past 40 years. However, he is up against one of the all-time greats. Bumrah has had his number, dismissing him four times for 15 runs in 66 balls.

It is to be noted Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne are also struggling, which would make dropping McSweeney seem the harsh move. Bumrah has dismissed Khawaja four times for 17 runs in 71 balls, with the left-hander scoring a total of 63 runs at 12.60. Labuschagne hasn’t fared much better, with 82 runs in total at 16.40, with returns of 2/6 off 72 balls against Bumrah.

However, captain Pat Cummins defended the returns of the top three. He said their contribution at Adelaide and Brisbane ensured that Head walked out to the pitch in the 41st and 39th over respectively.

“I think the trend in world cricket pretty much all around the world is the top three is a really hard place to bat at the moment,” Cummins said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Particularly here in Australia, the wickets are tough. I think there’s little snippets that have been important. Again, that first innings, Trav walks in 35 overs into the game, I think that makes a big difference, the same in Adelaide. Obviously they [the top three] would be hoping to score more runs, we’d like them to score more runs, but I think they have made some important contributions that others have benefited from.”

Sam Konstas to play – report

There are calls for young gun Sam Konstas to come into the squad and open. The 19-year-old is enjoying a fine season so far. This includes hitting twin hundreds in a Sheffield Shield game, hitting an unbeaten 73* against India A at the MCG, smacking 107 against India in a tour game in Canberra and then hammering 56 off 27 balls on BBL debut.

According to Ben Horne for CODE Sports, Konstas is on the verge of an Australian squad callup. “A behind-the-scenes push to overhaul Australia’s struggling top order has put Sam Konstas in the frame to be called into the squad for the Boxing Day Test,” read the post on X.

Whether Konstas can have success against Bumrah and co. remains to be seen. But, his more attacking approach could be what the selectors are after. It adds to the already interesting narratives building ahead of Boxing Day. Debates are rife as to which team has the upper hand heading into the all-important fourth Test.

Australia cannot lose. If India win, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will remain with them once again, prolonging Australia’s wait which stretches back to the start of the 2017 series.