Australian Test contenders Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris squandered golden opportunities to bolster their claims for selection against India on Thursday, departing for meagre totals in the Australia A match in Mackay.
But Nathan McSweeney reached stumps on day one on 29 and is hoping to capitalise on the promising start in his push for selection as an opener or a first drop.
Konstas, the 19-year-old NSW sensation, and Bancroft, the 31-year-old former Test opener, were both caught behind for a duck in the match against India A.
Harris also had a wretched time at the crease, surviving on 8 when he was dropped at third slip then losing his wicket for 17 when he edged a Prasidh Krishna ball to second slip.
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A four-way Australia A bat-off featuring Konstas, Bancroft, Harris and McSweeney is generating enormous anticipation as selectors search for Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the five-Test series against India, beginning in Perth on November 22.
After India A was rolled for 107 on Thursday, Konstas and Harris opened the batting for Australia A.
Konstas was dismissed for a three-ball duck when he prodded at a Mukesh Kumar ball on the front foot, before Bancroft made a 14-ball duck when he tickled a Krishna delivery down the leg side.
Bancroft has registered scores of 0, 0, 8, 2 and 0 from his past five first-class innings.
After the fall of Bancroft in Mackay came the dismissal of Harris, who’s also trying to regain selection for the Test side.
McSweeney, the uncapped Test hopeful from South Australia, and West Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly reached stumps on 29 and 14 respectively.
Australia A will resume at 4-99 on day two of the four-day match.
Fast bowler Brendan Doggett was brilliant for Australia A on day one, snaring 6-15 as India A folded for 107 in 47.4 overs.
