Australia opener reflects on exclusion from Test squad against India

Top-order batter Nathan McSweeney has opened up after being dropped from Australia's squad, following a challenging start to his Test career in the first three games against India.

Reflecting on the disappointment of being dropped, McSweeney said, "Yeah, I mean devastated, I get the dream come true and then didn’t quite work the way I wanted. 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."

McSweeney, who made his Test debut for Australia in Perth last month, was assigned in the opening role alongside Usman Khawaja after impressing for Australia A in a warm-up match preceding the series.

His maiden call-up to the Test side, however, was short-lived, managing just 72 runs across six innings, with five of his dismissals falling between 0 and 10.

Read: Australia reveal squad for final two Tests against India

McSweeney acknowledged that his position in the squad was never guaranteed, and he understood the importance of making the most of every opportunity.

“If you don’t take an opportunity and you're not performing as well as you want to, your position's never safe.

“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 to make sure that if the opportunity comes round again I'm definitely ready."

While the right-handed batter's performances against the Indian pace attack, including the formidable Jasprit Bumrah, were a key focus of the selectors' decision, he acknowledged the challenges of facing a world-class bowling attack in a five-Test series.

"I faced some balls and spent a bit of time out there so that helped my confidence but I did not get the scores that I wanted. As everyone was saying, it probably does not get much harder."

World Test Championship - State of Play ahead of 2025 final

Australia's selection committee, led by Chair George Bailey, have subbed in 19-year-old Sam Konstas into the squad, with the team requiring more impetus from the top order. Bailey admitted that it was a hard call, particularly given the small sample size of just three Tests from McSweeney.

"It was a really hard decision for Nathan and one that we spent a lot of time deliberating over," said Bailey.

"Particularly after a small sample size of three Tests. That’s never a great phone call, is it? Nathan was disappointed, and really the message to him was much the same as at the start of the series, that we believe he has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level."

For McSweeney, the disappointment of being dropped is a temporary setback, and he is determined to continue working hard and learning from his short experience in the Test arena.

"Learning on the go is a different challenge.

"In Sheffield Shield cricket you face a good bowler and you might see him again after Christmas. It's different and unique playing a five-Test series and fronting up against him a week later, so you are thinking on the run a lot."