Do Feel For Nathan McSweeney, But Totally Understand Why Australia Dropped Him, Says Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan said he does feel sad for Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped from Australia's squad for the remaining two Tests against India, while acknowledging the rationale behind the decision made by the visitors'. McSweeney opened in the first three Tests against India but made just 72 runs at an average of 14.40, despite not having opened previously in first-class cricket. On Friday, the Australian selectors dropped McSweeney to draft in teenage opener Sam Konstas. "I feel for Nathan, I think he'll be back - but I totally understand why Australia made this move. I feel for the kid, because of all the people that I've seen come into Test cricket over the last 10 years, I don't think anyone's been given a harder challenge.

"To face Bumrah in the conditions that he's had to face now, the pink ball under lights in his second game, in Perth it did all sorts and in Brisbane the ball was moving around. I thought they'd go with McSweeney for Melbourne, and if he failed again, they'd bring Sam (Konstas) in for his home Test at the SCG.

"I don't think in the long run it's going to be a bad thing for McSweeney. I think he will end up being an Australian Test cricketer, but I don't think he'll be up the top of the order; I think it'll be down at four or five. If I was McSweeney, next time I get the chance to wear the baggy green, I'd want him to be in the position that he's played all his life," said Vaughan to Fox Sports on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Konstas shot into the limelight by scoring twin centuries against South Australia in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield. Those twin centuries also earned him the distinction of being the first teenager to achieve this feat in the Sheffield Shield since the