Teenager Sam Konstas has been called up to Australia's squad for the final two matches of their Test series against India at the expense of Nathan McSweeney.
The unsuspended Konstas was on Friday included in Australia's 15-man squad for the final two decisive Tests, with wicketkeeper Jhye Richardson another fresh face in place of the dropped fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. injury
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas would become the fourth youngest Test debutant in Australian history if selected for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and the youngest since current captain Pat Cummins in 2011.
His call-up comes two days after the opening batsman made history on his Big Bash League debut for Sydney Thunder by becoming the youngest man to score a fifty in the competition.
The Australia-India series is level at 1-1 after the rain-affected draw ended on Wednesday at the Gabba in Brisbane.
India won the first Test by 295 runs in Perth, and Australia came back to win the second day-night Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
“Sam will be getting his first call-up to the Test team. His batting style offers a lot of variety and we look forward to watching him game getting longer,” said senior selector George Bailey.
Sam Konstas made his debut for the Sydney Thunder
“We remain confident that Nathan has the ability and potential to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out.”
The inclusion of Konstas has pushed McSweeney out of the frame after he and fellow opener Usman Khawaja got it wrong in the first three Tests against India. They did not score higher than 40 in this series.
Paceman Scott Boland is expected to be called into the XI in place of Hazlewood at the MCG, where he memorably took 6-7 in the second innings of his first Test three years ago.
Team Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Beau Webster.
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