Aussie cricket great's warning about Sam Konstas selection amid ...

Aussie cricket great Merv Hughes says calling up Sam Konstas to the Australian Test squad is a 'panic' move, amid reports the 19-year-old has been picked for the Boxing Day Test against India. It's understood the 19-year-old batting prodigy was notified on Friday that he would be named in Australia's squad that afternoon, with numerous reports suggesting opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped.

Scott Boland is almost certain to come back into the side to replace Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar series with a calf injury. But the axing of McSweeney would be a cruel blow for the 25-year-old, who has only batted in a handful of innings after making his Test debut in the Perth series opener.

Sam Konstas is set to replace Aussie opener Nathan McSweeney for the Boxing Day Test. Pic: Getty

McSweeney has only registered one score above 10 in his six Test innings to date - with his battling 39 facing the pink ball under lights in Adelaide the highlight so far. He didn't get much of a chance to add to that in the second innings in Adelaide, finishing on 10 not out as the Aussies wrapped up a dominant 10-wicket win.

However, four of McSweeney's innings have seen him dismissed for single-digit scores, and he's averaging just 14.4 in a tough start to his Test career. McSweeney’s strike rate of 34 across his six innings also highlights how ponderous the opener has been and selectors may be looking for more aggression at the top of the order.

Konstas' inclusion in the Aussie squad could see the 19-year-old come straight into the starting XI at opener, where he's batted impressively in the Sheffield Shield for NSW. However, selectors could also promote reserve batsman Josh Inglis into the starting XI, which may prompt a reshuffle to Australia's batting order.

It comes after Hughes warned selectors not to make any batting changes for the Boxing Day Test. The former Australian selector and Test quick says the "batsmen were on a hiding to nothing" during the second innings in Brisbane, where they collapsed to be 7-85 before declaring after chasing quick runs to try and seal an improbable victory.

“I don’t often say this but you feel for batsmen in those situations. I wouldn’t read too much into that second innings," Hughes told The Courier Mail. “I can’t see there being anything but forced changes. McSweeney’s going OK. He’s getting through a lot of balls.” The 63-year-old has called for calm after suggesting that axing McSweeney and picking Konstas for the fourth Test would be a 'panic' move from selectors.

“It would have been a bold call bringing him in at the start of the season,” Hughes said about Konstas. “Now it would almost be a panic call to me... Just stay calm. They drew the last Test. The last two Tests have been a draw and a win, so what is there to panic about.”

Aussie opener Nathan McSweeney has endured a tough start to his Test career. Pic: Getty

Calls have grown louder for Konstas to earn a Test call-up off the back of his superb Sheffield Shield form and a record-breaking half century on his BBL debut for the Sydney Thunder on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old became the youngest player to score a BBL half-century after reaching his milestone off just 20 balls, before going on to make 56 from 27 balls.

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Konstas also made twin tons in one Sheffield Shield match for NSW earlier this year and notched a 90-ball century for the Prime Minister's XI against India in December. And former England captain Michael Vaughan says he's seen enough to be convinced the teen sensation is ready to make his Test debut.

Sam Konstas' superb form in 2024 included a record-breaking half century for the Sydney Thunder in the BBL this week. Pic: Getty

"There's always a want and a will to talk about what could go wrong with any young player but they've got to get him in quickly because he's got the ceiling to be world world class," Vaughan said on Fox Cricket. "I think he's a wonderful talent and he's got a huge future and if there's a few failures from now until Sydney I wouldn't be surprised if he is brought in to make his debut at his home venue... I think he could be brought in to play at the SCG."

Konstas' call-up could see him partner veteran Aussie opener Usman Khawaja, who has also been struggling with the bat. The 38-year-old was dismissed for eight and four in Perth, while he only added 13 and nine not out in Australia's 10-wicket victory in Adelaide before notching just 21 and 8 in Brisbane. The last time Khawaja made a Test ton for Australia was during the 2023 Ashes series against England.