MITCHELL JOHNSON: Nathan McSweeney should be playing for Australian Test team on West Indies Tour

While the failures of Cam Green as Australia’s new No.3 are dominating talk, the return of opener Sam Konstas to the Test team is a huge moment as the Aussies begin the “team reset” that captain Pat Cummins has spoken about.

With Konstas having burst onto the scene with his Boxing Day heroics, the three-Test series against the West Indies is the perfect opportunity for him to knuckle down without the added pressure that comes with playing at home.

There will be fewer eyes on the 19-year-old during this overseas tour, which should allow him to face plenty of balls and gain valuable experience on some good batting tracks.

Overseas tours are crucial for young players. Away from the Aussie summer, the focus on the Australian players is less intense.

We’ve seen the hype surrounding Konstas and how it impacted his game. He is undoubtedly a talented batter, and despite missing out in the first innings in Barbados, I hope this West Indies tour serves as a pivotal experience for his growth.

The combination of Konstas and Usman Khawaja, 38, is also a nice balance if Khawaja is at his best.

With the loss of Steve Smith to injury at number four, the Australian batting line-up certainly doesn’t look as strong and getting rolled for 180 on the opening day of the series wasn’t the start the batting line-up was after.

With one eye on England’s big win over India at Headingley, this is an important series for Australia and will help shape the team for this summer’s Ashes series.

It was interesting to see Cummins flag Green as a potential long-term option at No.3 before the Test match.

The No.3 position has always been seen as one of the most critical roles in any cricket team, especially in Australia. Historically, this spot has been occupied by some of the greatest players in the game, and it carries with it a legacy that shapes the expectations for current and future players.

Names like Sir Donald Bradman and Ricky Ponting immediately come to mind. Is Green that type of batter or are they just trying to force him into becoming that type of player?

Watching Green’s first innings against the West Indies (3 off 21 balls) only confirmed his technical issues in defence, and it was obvious he looked nervous and unsure of himself.

I want Green to succeed, but I feel he needs to be batting at five or six for Australia to get the best out of him.

Australia’s batting has struggled for a while and scores of 212 and 207 proved not enough to win the recent World Test Championship final in the defeat to South Africa.

I often hear that there aren’t any players around the country performing well enough in Sheffield Shield cricket to justify making changes. I disagree. And it’s quite insulting to the emerging players coming through.

If you’ve watched any first-class cricket or seen the stats over the past few years, you would see players are performing and have warranted higher honours.

Yes, the number of players knocking on the door might not seem what it used to be, and sure, upcoming players might not boast averages like domestic stars of the past. But comparing across eras doesn’t compare apples with apples.

This was another opportunity where we could have seen some more of the next generation coming through, such as Nathan McSweeney, who, in these conditions, could have gained some confidence without the added pressure.

We must give the next generation more opportunities.

It’s up to the selectors to be on top of this, especially given the majority of the Australian Test team are in their 30s. We must plan ahead and stay ahead of the game so we don’t get left behind.

While we might be facing a potential drop-off as some of the greats retire, it’s also an exciting time to consider what the future holds.