NEW DELHI: Days after being dropped from Australia’s Test squad for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Nathan McSweeney roared back to form, firing a sizzling 78 in Brisbane Heat’s thrilling last-ball win over Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League on Sunday.
The 25-year-old struck an unbeaten 49-ball 78 as Heat chased down the 175-run target on the final ball of the game in Brisbane.
After the game, Player of the Match McSweeney reflected on his time with the Australian Test team and shared advice he received.
“It’s always nice to bounce back. I loved my time on the Australian Cricket team. You know sharing the changing room with some of Australia’s best players was awesome. And yeah hopefully I can continue to get better and learn from my experiences and get back there,” he said after the match.
“Marnus (Labuschagne) in particular, just said it’s not where it starts, it’s where it ends. I think a good story always has its ups and downs and hopefully mine can. When I finish and I’m all done, I can look back on this and it was a great learning curve,” McSweeney said.
McSweeney’s removal from the Test side followed a series of low scores in the BGT against India. He failed to reach double figures in five of his six innings.
Despite showing initial potential, his struggles against the moving ball as an opener ultimately led to his omission.
Teenager Sam Konstas has replaced McSweeney in the Test squad for the final two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Konstas has had an impressive start to his senior career after a standout performance at the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year.
The 19-year-old’s potential debut could make him the second-youngest player and youngest specialist batter for Australia since Ian Craig in 1953.
Craig debuted at 17 years and 239 days old.
