Australia have called up teenage batting prodigy Sam Konstas to their Test squad for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, with Nathan McSweeney dropped. The 19-year-old opener, who would be the fourth youngest Test debutant in Australian history if selected for the Boxing Day Test, replaces McSweeney after both openers struggled in the first three Tests.
Konstas, who turns 20 in October, has been in outstanding form, scoring two centuries in a Sheffield Shield match in October and a century for the Prime Minister's XI against India earlier this month. He also became the youngest player to score a BBL half-century on his debut for Sydney Thunder on Tuesday.
Chief selector George Bailey said Konstas's style offers a point of difference and that the selectors wanted to provide a different option at the top of the order. McSweeney, who had never opened in first-class cricket before his Test debut, has been dropped despite showing promise.
Konstas, a protege of former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, said he was motivated by the prospect of a Test debut. 'It would be a dream come true if I got that opportunity,' he said.
Paceman Jhye Richardson also returns to the squad, replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood, while Scott Boland is expected to replace Hazlewood in the XI for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
