Australia’s Nathan McSweeney tipped to open against India in BGT: Meet the 25-year-old batter

The Australian cricket team can have a new opener in Nathan McSweeney for the five-match Test series against India which starts on 22 November in Perth. McSweeney, who is still to debut for Australia, has never played as an opener at the domestic level but has been asked to do the job in the final Australia A vs India A game which will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 7 November.

McSweeney’s promotion was confirmed by Australia chairman of selectors George Bailey on Wednesday who added that Marcus Harris will be the other opener in the four-day match.

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Australia has been fretting over who will partner Usman Khawaja in the Test series after Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft (playing at No.3) failed to put up impressive scores in the first Australia A vs India A match at Mackay which the hosts won by 7 wickets.

McSweeney, batting at Bo.4, was Australia A’s best batter in the match with scores of 39 and 88 not out.

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While Australia are still to pick their Test squad for the India series, McSweeney’s promotion to the opening slot indicates that he will play the same role in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Ponting wants McSweeney to open for Australia

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting also feels that the 25-year-old batted, McSweeney, will be Australia’s opener given his recent good form and leadership skills.

“I don’t think they’d go back to a (Cameron) Bancroft or (Marcus) Harris because if they’re willing to do that they would’ve done it the last year,” Ponting told The ICC Review. “So, the only name left for me more or less is Nathan McSweeney, who is Queensland-born now playing for South Australia. He got the most out of any of those guys from the ‘A’ game in Australia at the moment.

“And he’s more experienced. He has captained Australia A in the past, and he’s captaining them now. So, I’m leaning towards McSweeney now for that opening role at the start of the Australian summer.”

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McSweeney, who captains South Australia, was already a favourite to be a part of Australia’s XI after the injury to Cameron Green. If not the opening slot, he was expected to bat at No.3. Australia captain Pat Cummins had hinted last week that Marnus Labuschgane could be Khawaja’s opening partner.

If McSweeney opens for Australia against India, he will be the first player since Victoria’s Richie Robinson (selected in the first Test of the 1977 Ashes) to open for Aussies without prior experience in domestic cricket.

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Meanwhile, McSweeney feels he’s ready to make his debut for Australia.

“I think I am playing pretty well at the moment,” McSweeney said on Sunday. “I am really confident in my game and I am progressing and playing some of the best innings I have played.

“Hopefully I can continue to learn and get better. If the opportunity comes, I feel like I am ready. If it doesn’t, hopefully I can get the call one day.”

Nathan McSweeney’s first-class record

In 33 matches, he has scored 2213 runs at an average of 38.82. McSweeney has six hundred and 12 fifties to his name in first-class cricket with a highest score of 127 not out. He can also bowl off-spin and has taken 16 wickets at an average of 33.68.