BGT 2024-25: Cricket Australia (CA) revealed a list of a 15-member squad for the remaining two tests against India, which includes the fourth test to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the fifth test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The five-match test series of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 is balanced with a 1-1 scoreline after the Gabba test finished with a draw. Both teams will be aiming for a crucial win in the Boxing Day Test starting on December 26 (Thursday) at the MCG to improve their rankings in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. Securing a 2-1 lead in the next match will increase the chances of the winning team qualifying for the WTC 2025 final.
The Australian selectors have made three changes to the present squad by dropping Nathan McSweeney, Josh Hazlewood, and Brendon Doggett.
The 19-year-old Sam Konstas gets an opportunity to make his test debut in the ongoing series, following his exceptional half-century for David Warner’s led Sydney Thunders in the continuing Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25. On the other side, the pace bowler Jhye Richardson and all-rounder Sean Abbott have been included in the squad and retained Beau Webster.
Why Nathan McSweeney was dropped for the Boxing Day’s Test BGT 2024-25?
Nathan McSweeney has struggled to tackle the pace bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, as he managed to score just 72 runs in 6 innings, averaging at 14.40 in 3 matches. As a result, this was the lowest score by any Australian opener in the first six innings since 1974. He was dismissed on 4 occasions by Bumrah and once by Akash Deep.
These are the scores of the 25-year-old all-rounder in the BGT 2024-25 so far, starting from the Perth test to the recently concluded match at the Gabba in Brisbane:
| Venue | Match | Scores in Both Innings | Dismissed by | |
| First Innings | Second Innings | |||
| PERTH | 1st Test | 10 Runs out of 13 balls (2 fours) | 0 out of 4 balls | Jasprit Bumrah (in both innings) |
| ADELAIDE | 2nd Test | 39 runs from 109 balls (including 6 Fours) | 9 runs from 8 balls (including 1 four) | Jasprit Bumrah (in 1st innings) |
| BRISBANE | 3rd Test | 9 runs from 49 balls (1 four) | 8 runs out of 7 balls (2 fours) | Jasprit Bumrah (in 1st innings) and Akash Deep (in 2nd innings) |
Despite being in good form in two seasons of Sheffield Shield in 2023 and 2024, the 25-year-old all-rounder wasn’t able to replicate his success in test cricket against India. Possibly, it might be due to these reasons:
- Less experience batting at the opening spot
- Challenging to face India’s quality pace bowling attack
- Huge pressure in his debut test series.
Although Usman Khwaja didn’t manage to perform well alongside McSweeney as an opener by accumulating just 63 runs in 6 innings, he secured his spot due to immense experience over these years. However, the 38-year-old’s form has come under scrutiny and might force selectors to reconsider their options for the Sri Lankan tour if he continues with his poor form.
Reasons Why Josh Hazlewood was Dropped for the Boxing Day Test of BGT 2024-25
During the third test match in Brisbane, the Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood sustained a calf injury, and after undergoing scans the reports revealed that the strain could become serious enough in the later stages. Also, the medium pacer Brendon Doggett has been benched for two tests at the Adelaide Oval and Gabba.
As a result, Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson are included in the squad to fulfill Hazlewood’s absence and maintain the strength in the pace bowling attack.
Sam Konstas earns his maiden Test Call After a stunning Performance in BBL 2024
Sam Konstas marked his BBL debut for Sydney Thunders in the 14th season and opening alongside the skipper David Warner, he scored a terrifying 56 runs out of 27 balls (including 8 fours and 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 207.41. It was indeed the fastest fifty scored by any player for Sydney Thunders that guided the team to a thrilling 2-wicket victory chasing a target of 183 runs.
The Chairman of Selectors George Bailey said that Sam’s batting style helped to overcome Australia’s top-order batting challenges faced throughout the series. He added that although it was a tough decision to leave McSweeney out of the squad, the management hopes that his temperament and talent would contribute immense success to the team’s future.
Australia’s 15-Member Squad for Fourth and Fifth Test BGT 2024-25
Here is the complete list of the Australian cricket team’s 15-member squad for the remaining tests of the BGT 2024-25:
| S.No | Player | Role | Batting / Bowling Style |
| 1. | Pat Cummins (Captain) | Bowler | Right Arm Pacer |
| 2. | Jhye Richardson | ||
| 3. | Scott Boland | Right Arm Medium Pacer | |
| 4. | Mitchell Starc | Left Arm Pacer | |
| 5. | Nathan Lyon | Right-arm Off-spinner | |
| 6. | Sean Abbott | All-rounder | Right Right-handed Batsman AND Right Arm Medium Pacer |
| 7. | Mitchell Marsh | ||
| 8. | Beau Webster | ||
| 9. | Sam Konstas | Right Right-handed Batsman AND Right Arm Off Spinner | |
| 10. | Alex Carey | Batsman and Wicketkeeper | Left-Handed |
| 11. | Josh Inglis | Right-Handed | |
| 12. | Travis Head | Batsman | Left-Handed |
| 13. | Usman Khawaja | ||
| 14. | Marnus Labuschagne | Right-Handed | |
| 15. | Steven Smith |
