Match No- 31 of the ongoing Big Bash League between Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat turned out to be a high-scoring encounter. Playing in Adelaide on Saturday, the Strikers registered a massive 56-run victory as they posted 251/5 in 20 overs, after being asked to bat first. In return, the Heat put up a good fight but gout bundled out for 195. For Strikers, Matthew Short was the star performer with his 109-run knock. However, a moment from Strikers’ bowler Liam Haskett became the highlight of the day.

During the 4th over of the Heat’s chase, Nathan McSweeney hammered a pull shot over the deep square leg off Liam Haskett. The ball simply went for a six but in the crowd, it was caught by Haskett’s father. He then grabbed the ball and threw it back on the ground.

No way!

Liam Haskett got hit for six by Nathan McSweeney. The guy in the crowd that caught the catch?

His DAD #BBL14 pic.twitter.com/qyVVGXNGxt

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 11, 2025

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who was commentating during the match with Michael Vaughan and Michael Hussey, was also taken aback by the sheer co-incidence.

Talking about the match, the Strikers posted a whopping total of 251/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first. For Strikers, Matthew Short scored 109 off 54 balls while Chris Lynn and Alex Ross scored 47 and 44 runs respectively.

For the Heat, Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson took three and two wickets respectively.

Later in the chase, the Heat kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and got bundled out for 195. Nathan McSweeney was the star batter as he scored 43 off 23 balls.

Apart from McSweeney, Matt Renshaw 34 off 16 balls while Spencer Johnson scored 27 off 13 balls.

For the Strikers, D Arcy Short was the pick among the bowlers as he registered a four-wicket haul. Liam Haskett and Lloyd Pope also took wickets each while Jordan Buckingham scalped one wicket.

The Strikers will now be squaring off against Sydney Sixers for their next Big Bash League match on Wednesday in Adelaide. On the other hand, the Heat will be taking on Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday.

Rookie Australia opener Nathan McSweeney admitted feeling “devastated” after being dropped for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India but vowed to work hard to reclaim his spot in the national team. McSweeney was on Friday dropped by the national selectors, who handed a maiden call-up to teenage sensation Sam Kontas.

“Yeah, I mean devastated, I get the dream come true and then didn’t quite work the way I wanted,” McSweeney told Channel 7.

“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.” The 25-year-old, who made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, struggled at the top with scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9, and 4 in his six innings. He was dismissed by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah four times during the series.

“It’s the game we’re in. If you don’t take an opportunity and you’re not performing as well as you want to, your position’s never safe,” McSweeney said.

“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 hard to make sure that if the opportunity comes around again, I’m definitely ready.” Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey acknowledged the decision was “hard” and said it had been “deliberated a lot.” However, former skipper Michael Clarke felt the move to drop McSweeney could potentially “end his career.” McSweeney, primarily a middle-order batter, had opened for Australia A against India A before the squad for the first Test was announced. Despite his lack of experience as an opener, he had shown promise in Adelaide’s first innings, negotiating challenging conditions alongside Marnus Labuschagne.

Australia great Mike Hussey sympathised with McSweeney, calling the decision “tough.” “I really feel for McSweeney. I think it’s tough on him. Tough call,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.

“I don’t know (if it was the right call). It’s a tough one on him. It’s not easy. The ball’s been moving around quite a lot for the openers. A lot of batters at the top of the order have been battling away.” With all-rounder Cameron Green set to return from injury later in the year, competition for spots in the Australian middle-order is expected to intensify, making McSweeney’s path back to the team even more challenging.

Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey revealed on Friday that he had “deliberated a lot” before deciding to drop opener Nathan McSweeney for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a decision based on how the series had unfolded. Teenage sensation Sam Konstas received his maiden call-up following a string of disappointing performances from the Australian top order in the first three Tests, particularly from McSweeney.

Having made his Test debut in the series-opener in Perth, the 25-year-old McSweeney capped scores of 10, 0, 39, 10 not out, 9 and 4 in his six innings and was dismissed by Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah four times.

“(It was a) really hard decision for Nathan and one that we spent a lot of time deliberating over. Particularly after a small sample size of three Tests…That’s never a great phone call, is it?” Bailey was quoted saying in ESPNCricinfo.

Bailey conceded that McSweeney was dejected after getting the news but said the top-order batter has the ability to bounce back and be in Test reckoning in future.

“Nathan was disappointed and really the message to him was much the same as at the start of the series, that we believe he has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level.

“But just given the way the series has played out, we just want the option of throwing something different at India for this next Test (in Melbourne),” added Bailey.

The five-Test series is keenly poised with both teams level at 1-1 after the drawn third Test at the Gabba.

“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line up for the next two matches,” he added.

Former pacer and ex-selector Merv Hughes had cautioned selectors against making any changes to the batting lineup for the Boxing Day Test.

“Now it would almost be a panic call to me… Just stay calm. They (India) drew the last Test. The last two Tests have been a draw and a win, so what is there to panic about,” Hughes had told ‘The Courier Mail’.

The Australian cricket team has made multiple changes in its squad for the 4th and the 5th Test against India – in Melbourne and Sydney respectively. One of the casualties of the changes that have been made was opening batter Nathan McSweeney who was touted to be the long-term replacement for retired David Warner. The man replacing him is 19-year-old Sam Konstas who impressed many with his century in the Prime Minister’s XI practice game against Team India in Canberra before the pink-ball Test.

McSweeney’s exclusion from the squad isn’t the only big change as marquee pacer Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out of the remainder of the series. Hazlewood sustained an injury in the Brisbane Test that made him unavailable for the final two days of the match too. Australia have also added, Sean Abbott, Jhye Richardson and Beau Webster in the squad for the final two matches of the series.

“The squad provides options as to how we structure the XI for the final two Tests of the series,” Cricket Australia’s chairman of Selectors George Bailey in an official statement.

“Sam gets a call-up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further.

Bailey said that Australia are still counting on McSweeney’s potential and it was a difficult decision to drop him from the squad for the 3rd and the 4th Test.

“We remain confident Nathan has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level in the future. It was a difficult decision to leave him out.

“It has clearly been a challenge at the top of the order for batters throughout the series and we want to provide the option of a different line-up for the next two matches.”

Scott Boland and Jhye Richardson unarguably remain the top two options to replace Josh Hazlewood in the playing XI for Australia.

“In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye provides further options in the fast bowling space. It has been pleasing to see his successful return throughout the early part of the domestic summer,” he added.

Australia squad for last two Tests against India: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Beau Webster, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson, Alex Carey, Scott Boland, and Josh Inglis.

Australia opener Nathan McSweeney said he is enjoying the experience of working on countering India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and is hoping for him to play in the third game at Brisbane. Bumrah trapped McSweeney lbw for 10 and 0 in Perth, in what was the opener’s debut Test. But McSweeney responded back by making 39 in Australia’s first innings in Adelaide under lights before being dismissed by Bumrah on day two’s first session.

But by then, McSweeney had shared a 67-run stand for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne that set up Australia’s series-levelling ten-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval, which also saw Bumrah suffering an injury scare after suffering pain in his left adductor muscle.

“If you want to win you want to do it with the best guys. Hopefully he is charging in and hopefully we can play really well. Facing him for the first time, he is a unique bowler and obviously world class. He is a little bit different to most bowlers I have faced so it is about adapting to his angle and where he delivers on the crease.”

“I got two pretty good balls from him (in Perth) so you’ve got to wear that on the chin and trust what you have been doing is good enough. He got me again in Adelaide. I am really enjoying the experience of trying to work out a game plan on the run against a world class bowler.”

“Hopefully I will get better the more I face him and hopefully throw a few more punches here at the Gabba. To get a bowler like Jasprit early on in my career, it is not going to get much tougher than that. It is awesome fun. It is challenging no doubt but it is nice to get a little confidence from Adelaide and hopefully continue through the series,” said McSweeny to reporters on Wednesday.

Australia playing third Test against India at the Gabba, starting on December 14, also brings McSweeney, 25, back in Queensland, where he began his cricket career, before moving on to South Australia. The right-handed batter said batting on the Gabba pitch, known for its true bounce, will help him show his array of shots.

“I know I can withstand a bit of pressure and hopefully I can get a big score here in Brisbane. You never really know if you are up to it until you spend some time in the middle and get a bit of confidence,” he concluded.

As Australia gears up for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, former Aussie opener David Warner has stressed the importance of the top order delivering big runs, given the “relentless” nature of the Indian bowling attack when they operate in partnerships. The third Test of the series is set to begin on December 14 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Following a humbling 295-run defeat to the visitors at Perth’s Optus Stadium–where standout performances from Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal shone through–the hosts made a strong comeback. Exceptional bowling displays from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, along with a counter-attacking century by Travis Head, helped Australia secure a dominant 10-wicket win, chasing a modest target of 19 runs.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, as quoted by Wide World of Sports, Warner urged the Australian batters to step up their game, alleviating the pressure on the pacers.

“I think the pressure is on all of the top order, not just Uzzie (Usman Khawaja). Travis came out and counterpunched with a brilliant hundred–we know he’s capable of that–but it’s about everyone else around him providing support,” Warner remarked.

“It’s not just one player in particular; it’s the top six scoring bulk runs and giving the fast bowlers a break. The first game was high-paced, but in the last one, we saw Mitchell Starc at his best with the pink ball. Come Brisbane, we need to see some big runs from the top order.”

“This Indian bowling attack is relentless when they bowl in partnerships. If they maintain the intensity we saw with Bumrah the other day, the boys will need to dig deep and put big runs on the board,” he added.

Warner’s concern is well-founded. Key batters have struggled to perform this series, including Khawaja (308 runs in seven Tests at an average of 25.66, with one fifty in 14 innings), Steve Smith (232 runs in seven Tests at 23.20, with one fifty in 13 innings), Marnus Labuschagne (309 runs in seven Tests at 28.09, with four fifties in 13 innings), Mitchell Marsh (272 runs in seven Tests at 24.72, with two fifties in 11 innings), and Alex Carey (317 runs in seven Tests at 31.70, with two fifties in 11 innings).

Travis Head, however, has been the standout performer, amassing 438 runs in seven Tests at an average of 39.81, with two centuries and a fifty in 11 innings. Despite his relatively limited contributions in terms of quantity, Head looks to be the most in-form batter among Australia’s top-order players.

Warner also commended opener Nathan McSweeney for his temperament and handling of the role under challenging conditions.

“He’s faced four of the five toughest challenges for an opening batsman and handled them well. The intent he showed the other day was promising. While there were questions about his selection, his performance shows why he was chosen. He has a good temperament and setup, and I think he has a bright future ahead,” said Warner.

McSweeney, after low scores of 0 and 10 in Perth, impressed with a composed 39 in Adelaide, contributing to a half-century stand with Labuschagne, followed by an unbeaten 10 in the second innings.

Despite growing calls for U19 sensation Sam Konstas to make his debut, Warner believes it’s a decision for the selectors and that Konstas may not yet be ready.

“That’s up to the selectors. If they thought he was ready, they would have picked him by now,” Warner stated.

Konstas played a vital role in Australia’s ICC U19 World Cup 2024 triumph, scoring 191 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.28, including a century. He also impressed in the series between Australia A and India A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 92 runs in four innings, highlighted by a match-winning 73*. In the warm-up pink-ball game against India, he stamped his authority with a classy 107 off 97 balls against a formidable Indian attack.

In the ongoing Sheffield Shield season, Konstas is the fifth-highest run-getter with 471 runs in five matches at an average of 58.87, including two centuries and a fifty, with a best score of 152.

It’s not just Usman Khawaja but the entire Australian top-order that is feeling the “pressure” despite the series-levelling win in Adelaide, reckons former opener David Warner. While the under-fire Marnus Labuschagne found form with a resolute fifty, batting mainstay Steve Smith and rookie opener Nathan McSweeney continue to search for runs in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “I think the pressure is on all the top order, not just ‘Uzzie’,” the former Australian left-hander was quoted saying by Fox Cricket.

Travis Head smashed a memorable hundred at home as Australia bounce back to level the five match series after a crushing loss in Perth.

“Travis came out and counterpunched and scored a brilliant hundred, and we know he’s capable of doing it. But it’s everyone else around supporting that,” said Warner.

“It’s not just one player in particular, it’s the top six scoring bulk runs and making sure you’re giving rest to the fast bowlers. It was a fast-paced Test in the first game, but this last one was Mitchell Starc at his best as usual with the pink ball.

“Come Brisbane, we need to see some big runs from the top order,” he said about the third Test beginning here on Saturday.

McSweeney had a forgettable debut in Perth being trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah in both his innings for 10 and 0, while in Adelaide he managed 49 runs.

Khawaja has 34 runs in the first two Tests and in his last 16 innings he has reached fifty only once.

Former skipper Smith is also in the middle of a woeful run, having scored 19 in his three innings of the series.

On McSweeney, Warner said: “He’s had four of probably the five hardest jobs when it comes to an opening batsman, and I think he’s handled it well,” Warner said.

“We saw glimpses the other day of the intent that you show when you’re scoring, and there are a lot of question marks around why they chose him, but the glimpses that you’ve seen, we now know why.

“He’s got a good temperament, I like the way he sets up, and I think he’s got a good future ahead of him. It’s just this bowling attack from India is relentless if they bowl in partnerships.” On whether Sam Konstas should replace the struggling Khawaja, Warner said: “They would have picked him if they thought he was ready by now. That’s up to the selectors.” There have also been talks about a Test comeback for gun all-rounder Glenn Maxwell but Warner feels the white ball specialist “doesn’t deserve that opportunity”.

“If you’re not being picked for your Shield team, then why do you deserve it? You’ve got to actually want it, to want to play four-day cricket,” Warner told CODE.

“Unless he’s putting his hand up, he’s playing all the club cricket stuff and all that, to want to play Test cricket. He in my (opinion), doesn’t deserve that opportunity.” Maxwell, who has a career average of 26.07 in the format, last played a Test against Bangladesh in September 2017.

Nathan McSweeney after getting out in the India vs Australia 1st Test.© AFP