Georgie Parker: Australian selectors erred with poor treatment of Nathan McSweeney

I think we are all currently feeling pretty similar about the most recent Test squad announcement: Incredibly happy for the young teenager in Sam Konstas to be called in to the squad for a potential debut on Boxing Day, while simultaneously feeling for Nathan McSweeney, who was left out.

I’m not gong to pretend I know enough about cricket to suggest I know more than anyone who is making this call, however, I know enough about team selections to know that this one isn’t the right one.

Dropping the youngster when the senior members of the side aren’t performing doesn’t sit well with me in terms of how you want your team to value selection.

When selecting teams, there needs to be the right balance. The right balance of youthfulness, which helps future-proof your side, and the right balance of age which brings the experience.

We surely all look at the current Australian team and see a wealth of experience, but for the life of me, I can’t see the kids.

It’s the same for all sports in how you bring youngsters into the side. You need them to understand that it’s a step up so it won’t be the same as where they’ve been playing, but need it to be a safe space for them to grow in confidence to be able to play to their ability as quickly as possible.

That has not happened for McSweeney. In fact, the young man has been absolutely fed to the wolves this summer and his confidence was the main meal.

McSweeney is playing out of position, something that will take time for him to adapt to. Don’t forget even our best cricketer of the past decade - Steve Smith - didn’t take to that position, so why are the selectors expecting a 25-year-old who had never played Test cricket to do so quickly?

He is also up against arguably the best fast bowler in the world right now, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been brilliant in this series so far.

Not only is McSweeney out of regular batting position and playing the best in the world, he has also been on the hardest three batting wickets so far, with many top cricketers saying the MCG and the SCG are much more forgiving to those taking the crease.

In Adelaide, McSweeney was vital, with 39 runs to his name, but more importantly lasting in the hardest of conditions during the brutal night session. Travis Head went on to make over 150, partly because he didn’t have to face the Indian attack in the evening. That was thanks to McSweeney.

He has barely been given a go, and while international sport isn’t about fairness, the Australian cricket team prides itself in ‘sustained stability’ of its team sheet.

That’s fine, but they also have a duty for not just how the side looks and plays now but also what the future looks like of the team. And the future looks old.

We obviously have our ageing bowlers, but at least they’re still performing. The batters, on the other hand, are not.

At 38, Usman Khawaja shouldn’t be there in a year’s time, and if he is, we’re in strife.

Steve Smith’s best is likely behind him at 35, and Mitch Marsh is selected as an all-rounder but is barely bowling and not hitting big scores with the bat. He is in his mid-30s as well. To drop the future of the side when our seniors are struggling isn’t a good look, and internally I’m sure there are some raised eyebrows.

So for me, either the selectors got it wrong to begin with, and maybe should have gone with young Konstas over McSweeney from day dot, or they haven’t bothered really seeing the selection of McSweeney out.

Ultimately, both these guys are going to be integral in our side given the ageing group, so it is absolutely imperative they keep them feeling confident and ready to go at any given moment.

Over the age of 35, you’re only one injury away from never being able to play again, which is the reality for a fair chunk of our team.