Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has criticised the lack of forward-thinking from national selectors after opener Nathan McSweeney was axed from the Australian squad for the Boxing Day Test.
With the 25-year-old McSweeney omitted, young gun Sam Konstas has been included.
The move paves the way for the 19-year-old to make his Test debut at the MCG.
Nathan McSweeney of Australia. Chris Hyde via Getty Images
The decision to push out McSweeney after just three matches has turned the spotlight on chief selector George Bailey and his panel.
As it stands, the remaining top seven batters — not including Konstas — are aged 30 years or older, exhibiting a clear lack of young talent in the Test arena.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke stated that selectors had made a poor choice in dropping McSweeney from the squad.
"Everyone apart from Nathan McSweeney is over 30 years of age, and [in the] high 30s. What are we going to do? Continue to give a youngster two or three games, drop him, try someone else, and keep these older players?," he said.
"What happens if Usman Khawaja in two Test matches retires? Does McSweeney then come back in, or does he go to the back of the queue? They [the selectors] have got to come out and say, 'We made a mistake picking him.' This could end Nathan McSweeney's career. They picked him, [and] he deserved the summer."
Clarke believes the team's senior players are feeling the pressure after an underwhelming start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"I think the selectors have got this wrong. We've got Usman Khawaja who has just turned 38, [and] Uzzie has made no runs. He's a senior player," he said.
Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja have struggled to score runs this summer. Getty
"We've got Marnus Labuschagne, [who] we were talking about before the series, before he made his 60 — he has made no runs.
"Smithy [Steve Smith] batted like a genius [in Brisbane] and made a hard-fought hundred, but he's been under pressure.
"Mitchell Marsh is in the team as the all-rounder — he bowled two overs in the [Brisbane] Test match.
"Selecting a player, and selecting your team, is not about right here, this minute. There is a lot more that goes into it."
McSweeney reached double figures on one occasion in six innings to start the five-Test series.
Usually a No.3 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, McSweeney has struggled up against spearhead Jasprit Bumrah after winning the battle for the vacant opening batting spot.
Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Nathan McSweeney on day two of the third Test. Getty
Departing Adelaide to take up his place in the Brisbane Heat's BBL squad for Sunday's game, McSweeney voiced his devastation at being omitted.
"I mean, [I'm] devastated, the dream [had] come true and then didn't quite work out the way I wanted. But, it's all part of it — I'll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard, and hopefully be ready to go for my next opportunity," he told 7 News Adelaide on Saturday.
"It's the game we are in. If you don't take your opportunity, and you are not performing as well as you want to, your position is never safe. So, I missed out a few times with the bat. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take my opportunity but, as I said, I will work really hard to make sure, if the opportunity comes around again, I am definitely ready."
With the series tied at 1-all, the Boxing Day Test gets underway at 10:30am AEDT on Thursday.
