Australia squad for final two Tests vs India announced: Abbott replaces injured Hazlewood, Konstas earns maiden call-up

Sam Konstas and Beau Webster. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Opener Nathan McSweeney was dropped from the Australian squad set to take on India in the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. According to a Cricket Australia press release, McSweeney makes way for Sam Konstas. The 19-year-old opener scored a 107 against Rohit Sharma’s men while turning out for the Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra, in November.

With the series level at 1-1 and the fourth Test scheduled to commence at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here on December 26, the Australian selectors have also added Sean Abbott, Beau Webster and Jhye Richardson to the squad. Meanwhile, injured speedster Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out for now and it is expected that Scott Boland will replace him in the team.

The squad:

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head (vice-captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster.