Melbourne: Teenager Sam Konstas has been called up to the Australian team for the last two matches of the Australia-India Test series at the expense of Nathan McSweeney.
Konstas was included in Australia’s 15-man squad for the rest of the series against India on Friday, while pacer Jhay Richardson replaced fast bowler Jos Hazlewood among the other new faces.
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas will become the fourth-youngest Test debutant in Australia’s history if selected for the Boxing Day Test starting in Melbourne on December 26, and the youngest since current captain Pat Cummins in 2011.
The series was tied at 1-1 after a rain-affected draw at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday night. India won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs, while Australia won the second day-night Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
“Sam has been called up to the Test team for the first time. His batting style offers a point of difference and we look forward to seeing his game develop further,” said chief selector George Bailey.
Konstas’ inclusion pushed McSweeney out of the frame after he and fellow opener Usman Khawaja were mishandled in the first three Tests against India. Both failed to score above 40 in this series.
South Australian captain McSweeney had not opened a first-class match before playing the first three matches for Australia.
Paceman Scott Boland is expected to be called up in the XI to replace Hazlewood at the MCG, where he took 6-7 in the second innings of his Test debut three years ago.
Boland, 35, recently filled in for Hazlewood after a side strain ruled Hazlewood out of the second Test in Adelaide, where Boland scored five in his first Test in 18 months. Took a wicket.
Team Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh English, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Jhay Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Beau Webster.