December 21, 2024: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has strongly criticized the national selectors following Nathan McSweeney’s axing from the squad for the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India. Clarke expressed his disappointment with the selectors’ decision to drop the 25-year-old opener after just three Tests in the series, and he raised concerns about the broader strategy for Australia’s future in Test cricket.
McSweeney, who had opened alongside Usman Khawaja in the first three Tests, struggled to make an impact with the bat, scoring just 72 runs at an average of 14.40. Despite his lack of runs, Clarke argued that McSweeney deserved more time in the side, especially considering the age and form issues affecting the senior players in the squad.
Clarke pointed out the imbalance in Australia’s team composition, emphasizing that apart from McSweeney, most of the key players are over 30 or even in their late 30s, suggesting that there is a lack of youth and longevity in the squad. “Everyone apart from Nathan McSweeney is over 30 years of age and high 30s. What are we going to do? Continue to give a youngster two or three games, drop him, try someone else and keep these older players?” Clarke said on the Beyond23 cricket podcast.
Clarke further explored the potential consequences of McSweeney’s drop, speculating on what might happen if Usman Khawaja, who is 38, retires in the near future. “What happens if Usman Khawaja in two Test matches retires? Does McSweeney then come back in, or does he go to the back of the queue?” Clarke asked. “They (selectors) have got to come out and say: ‘We made a mistake picking him.’ This could end Nathan McSweeney’s career. They picked him and he deserved the summer. No matter who they picked in that opening position, they had to give him [McSweeney] the series. I think the selectors have got this wrong,” he added.
Clarke’s comments reflect his frustration with the lack of patience shown by the selectors and the seeming inconsistency in their decision-making process. He also pointed out the underwhelming performances of senior players, suggesting that McSweeney’s early struggles should not have led to such a swift dismissal. “We’ve got Usman Khawaja who has just turned 38, Ussie has made no runs. He’s a senior player. We’ve got Marnus Labuschagne, we were talking about before the series, before he made his 60, he has made no runs. Smithy [Steve Smith] batted like a genius [in Brisbane] and made a hard-fought hundred, but he’s been under pressure,” Clarke said.
In addition to the struggles of the senior batsmen, Clarke also criticized the selection of Mitchell Marsh, who, despite being selected as the all-rounder, only bowled two overs in the Brisbane Test. Clarke argued that the selectors should not just focus on the immediate moment but also consider the longer-term picture when selecting their squad. “Selecting a player and selecting your team is not about right here at this minute. There is a lot more that goes into it,” he said.
Clarke’s remarks underscore the ongoing debate around the balance between youth and experience in Australia’s Test team, especially when it comes to developing younger talent like McSweeney. While the selectors have opted to replace McSweeney with 19-year-old Sam Konstas for the Melbourne Test, Clarke remains convinced that McSweeney should have been given a longer run to prove himself in such a high-stakes series.
