"I don't think anyone's been given a harder challenge" - Former England captain reflects on Australian youngster's struggles in BGT 2024-25
Former England captain Michael Vaughan sympathized with young Australian batter Nathan McSweeney and stated that the cricketer has had probably the toughest challenge in Test cricket a debutant has faced in the last 10 years. McSweeney struggled against India's pace ace Jasprit Bumrah in the first three Tests of BGT 2024-25 and has been dropped for the last two matches.
McSweeney made his debut in the opening Test of the five-match series in Perth and registered scores of 10 & 0. In the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, he scored 39 & 10* before managing only 9 & 4 in the third Test at The Gabba.
Speaking to Fox Sports, Vaughan opined that the 25-year-old was thrown with a massive challenge that probably no other Test debutant has experienced in the last decade. He elaborated:
"I look at McSweeney and think I don't think there's a player who has had a harder start to their career. I feel for the kid, because of all the people that I've seen come into Test cricket over the last 10 years, I don't think anyone's been given a harder challenge.
"To face Bumrah in the conditions that he's had to face now, the pink ball under lights in his second game, in Perth it did all sorts and in Brisbane the ball was moving around," the 50-year-old went on to add.
Vaughan opined that Australia could have backed McSweeney for the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. He, however, asserted that the axe might not be a bad thing for the Queensland-born cricketer.
"I thought they'd go with McSweeney for Melbourne, and if he failed again, they'd bring Sam (Konstas) in for his home Test at the SCG. I don't think in the long run it's going to be a bad thing for McSweeney. I think he will end up being an Australian Test cricketer, but I don't think he'll be up the top of the order; I think it'll be down at four or five," the former England captain said.
Meanwhile, McSweeney shone with an unbeaten 78 off 49 balls for Brisbane Heat against Adelaide Strikers in match number nine of BBL 2024-25 in Brisbane on Sunday, December 22. He struck 10 fours and two sixes and was named Player of the Match as Brisbane Heat chased down a target of 175 off the last ball.
Who has replaced Nathan McSweeney in Australia's squad for last two BGT 2024-25 Tests?
Sam Konstas (19) has replaced McSweeney in Australia's squad for the last two Tests of BGT 2024-25 against India. The youngster smashed 107 off 97 for Prime Minister's XI against India in the two-day practice match at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Konstas hit 14 fours and a six in his knock. The right-hander has featured in 11 first-class games and has scored 718 runs at an average of 42.23.