"Your position is never safe" - Nathan McSweeney breaks silence after being dropped for BGT 2024-25 4th and 5th Tests

Australian all-rounder Nathan McSweeney broke his silence on being dropped from the squad for the upcoming fourth and fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test matches against India, set to be played in Melbourne and Sydney. The 25-year-old expressed his opinions about the implications of not making the best of the given opportunities.

McSweeney made his Test debut in the series opener of the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against the visiting Indian Cricket Team in Perth. He also became the first Australian player in 47 years to make his Test debut as an opener despite never playing in that slot during the Sheffield Shield fixtures. Opening alongside Usman Khawaja, he scored 10 runs in the first innings at the Optus Stadium before being dismissed by India's stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah.

Chasing a massive 534 runs for victory in the second innings, McSweeney was once again trapped LBW (leg before wicket dismissal) off Bumrah's bowling. This time, the debutant returned to the pavilion facing just four deliveries.

Opening up about his exclusion upon flying back to Brisbane from Adelaide, a visibly disappointed Nathan McSweeney said (via Channel 7),

"Devastated, I get the dream come true and then didn't quite work the way I wanted. But it's all part of it and I'll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard and hopefully be ready to go for the next opportunity. If you don't take an opportunity and you're not performing as well as you want to, your position's never safe. So I missed out a few times with the bat and unfortunately wasn't able to take my opportunity but as I said I'll work really to make sure that if the opportunity comes round again I'm definitely ready."

Nathan McSweeney scored 72 runs in the six innings he played against India

After a forgettable outing with the bat on his debut game, Nathan McSweeney amassed 39 runs in the first innings of the day-night Test match in Adelaide. His 109-ball knock, which comprised six fours came to an end after being caught behind by Rishabh Pant off Jasprit Bumrah.

During the second innings at the Adelaide Oval though, he remained unbeaten on nine runs while chasing the target of 19 runs for victory in the pink-ball game. In the rain-marred drawn third Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane, McSweeney scored nine and four runs respectively, thereby ending his tally at 72 runs in six innings against India.