Adam Gilchrist, Kerry O’Keeffe and David Warner all agreed that Nathan McSweeney should be Australia’s next opener — and now it seems like the South Australian captain well and truly has the inside track ahead of the first Test against India later this month.
Both News Corp and The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that McSweeney is set to open the batting on Thursday for Australia A against India A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It is the surest sign yet that McSweeney, who was the most impressive of all the contenders in the first match against India, will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Of course, Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Sam Konstas will all have at least the first innings to press their claims.
But for the time being it seems like McSweeney is the frontrunner, which is in keeping with what Gilchrist told foxsports.com.au on Monday, even if he was quite conflicted.
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“Like most people, I can’t quite settle on who I think should be in there,” Gilchrist said.
“I generally always thought that you don’t manufacture openers. They are what they are, and they’ve come through their cricketing progression in that position and churn out runs in Shield cricket.
“But Nathan McSweeney has put his hand up. Justin Langer wasn’t an opener, but all of a sudden he got an opportunity, and then he carved out an amazing career as an opener.
“Maybe the mould is there to be broken and McSweeney might be the one. He looks like a calm young man. He’s got great respect from his peers and the authority above seemed to hold him in high regard, so it seems like he might be the frontrunner at the moment.”
It comes after McSweeney topped the scoring for Australia A in the first innings last week with 39 from 131 balls before backing it up with an unbeaten 88 in a seven-wicket win.
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Speaking after that victory, McSweeney said he felt “really confident” in his game and was “ready” to make his Test debut if his name was called.
“I think I’m playing pretty well at the moment,” McSweeney told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“I’m really confident in my game. I’m progressing and I’m batting some of the best innings I’ve played.
“Hopefully I can continue to learn and get better. If the opportunity comes, I feel like I’m ready. If it doesn’t, I’ll keep working hard and hope that one day I get that call-up.”
