Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney in action. (Cricket Australia)
South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney is all but confirmed to earn his baggy green against India in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy, which starts on November 22 in Perth.
The 25-year-old has come into form at the perfect time to fill the vacant opener’s spot that has been empty ever since David Warner’s farewell Test in Sydney 10 months ago. After top-scoring twice for Australia A in the first unofficial Test against India A, including an unbeaten 88 in the second innings to steer his side to victory, McSweeney has stormed past his competition — all of whom were in the batting lineup alongside him but failed to impress.
Australia selectors have confirmed he will open the batting against India A in the second unofficial Test in Melbourne on Thursday, one final audition for the right-hander, which all but confirms that the team have found their pick to plug the hole in their top six ahead of the crucial series against India.
For his South Australia team in the Sheffield Shield, McSweeney bats at No. 4, the same position he excelled at against India A. In fact, McSweeney has never opened the batting in a first-class game, making his pick by the Australian selectors a huge show of confidence in the 25-year-old’s ability to partner Usman Khawaja in Australia’s biggest home series in years.
Among the other candidates were Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and teenager Sam Konstas, who became the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield. Australia seem unlikely to return to Bancroft or Harris, and the series may have come too early for the 19-year-old Konstas.
Instead, McSweeney’s recent showings have worked in his favour. He has a strong first-class record — averaging 38.82 in 33 matches with six centuries — and his leadership abilities have impressed too, with the captain leading from the front to take on the spinners and confidently get his team over the line against India A.
The only rider for the 25-year-old may be his lack of experience playing the new ball, which he has only had to do when his side loses early wickets. The last time a batter opened the innings for Australia without having done so in a single domestic match was Richie Robinson in the Ashes in 1977.
Australia captain Pat Cummins had suggested that Marnus Labuschagne could also be opening in the India series, which may mean McSweeney comes in at No. 3. But his elevation to opener for the Test against India A shows where Australia see him fitting in their batting lineup.
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