Nathan McSweeney is confident opening for Australia if selectors do decide to look the way of a non-specialist batter.
Nathan McSweeney says he is confident of fronting up to the new ball and opening the batting in the first Test against India.
Australia A and India A’s back-to-back four-day matches appear to be the final chance to partner with Usman Khawaja. The adolescent prodigy Sam Konstas is also in the team, while former Test openers Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris will open the batting in the opening game in Mackay beginning on Thursday.
Despite being South Australia’s third batsman, McSweeney is still in the running and might earn his Test debut after a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season with scores of 55, 127 not out, 37, and 72.
The 25-year-old McSweeney has improved on his performance from the previous season, when he amassed 762 runs at 40.10, including three hundreds, under primarily challenging batting circumstances. For the season, only three players in the competition scored more runs.
His nomination as Australian A captain, a position he has held on to multiple occasions, has reinforced his reputation as a future Test captain. In addition, McSweeney has captained the Brisbane Heat to the BBL championship last season and led the Prime Minister’s XI once.
The national selectors are left wondering if McSweeney can handle the new job of opening because of his form and well-regarded leadership abilities. His tactical acumen has impressed observers in his first season as South Australia captain.
“I think I’m playing probably the best cricket I have, batting No. 3 for South Australia, and pretty much my whole career,” McSweeney told reporters in Mackay.
“It’s not too dissimilar to opening. I feel like you can be in there the first over of the game. All my preparation is with the new ball, so I feel like my game’s ready.
“Hopefully I can get an opportunity. If not, I’ll keep trying to get better. What will be, will be.”