In-form Nathan McSweeney has one foot in the Test team after being confirmed as opener for the final Australia A game. The South Australia captain was the only contender for the vacant batting spot in Australia’s top six to fire in last week’s win against India A in Mackay.
McSweeney top-scored twice in the game, including hitting an unbeaten 88 in the second innings as Australia A sealed a seven-wicket victory over India A. The 25-year-old batted at No 4 in both innings of that match but has been promoted to open with Marcus Harris in the four-day match at the MCG starting on Thursday.
It is a huge show of confidence in the right-hander, who doesn’t open in the Sheffield Shield. But McSweeney believes he could make the jump up to open at Test level and bat with veteran left-hander Usman Khawaja against India this summer.
“As flagged prior to the series, the batting order was subject to adjustment throughout the two-match series,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said. “Jimmy Peirson and Ollie Davies come into the team for Josh Philippe and Cooper Connolly, who has joined the ODI squad.
“This match also gives us the chance to deploy a fresh bowling group in Scott Boland, Nathan McAndrew, Michael Neser and Corey Rocchiccioli after the three-day turnaround between games. We will use the opportunity this week to gather our final information before the announcement of the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series following the Australia A match.”
Selectors will wait until at least after the first innings of Australia A’s match against India A before naming their Test squad, giving Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Sam Konstas all one last chance to impress. After struggling in Mackay, NSW teenager Konstas will swap spots with McSweeney and bat at No 4.
McSweeney has become the clear favourite to take the injured Cameron Green’s spot in the Test XI. There remains some chance he could come into the side and bat at No 3, with Pat Cummins indicating on Sunday it was possible Marnus Labuschgane could open with Khawaja instead.
But McSweeney looks likely to open, with his only previous experience against the new ball being when his side has lost early wickets. Not since Victorian Richie Robinson in the first Test of the 1977 Ashes has an Australian been picked as an opener without having done so for their state.
“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.”
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Meanwhile, India have rushed KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to Australia to play in the final match against Australia A. Rahul was dropped during India’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home, but could open in the first Test in Perth if under-fire captain Rohit Sharma misses for personal reasons.
Australia A: Marcus Harris, Nathan McSweeney (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Sam Konstas, Ollie Davies, Beau Webster, Jimmy Peirson, Michael Neser, Nathan McAndrew, Scott Boland, Corey Rocchiccioli
