McSweeney gives timely reminder of his Test prospects with a double hundred in the tour game against England Lions.
Nathan McSweeney has thrust himself into contention as Usman Khawaja’s possible successor after producing a magnificent double hundred for Australia A against the England Lions.
With David Warner publicly backing a reshuffle that would see Travis Head drop back to No. 5 and a specialist opener partner Jake Weatherald, McSweeney delivered a timely statement of intent with his performance on Saturday.
McSweeney, 26, was still at the crease on 222 in Brisbane as Australia A closed the second day on 554 for 7, a massive response to the England Lions’ modest total of 166 and his first-ever double hundred at this level.
With a commanding lead of 388 already established at Allan Border Field, the match is effectively beyond reach for the Lions, despite them fielding three bowlers with Test experience. For McSweeney, however, the timing of this surge in form could hardly be better. Just a week earlier, he struck 63 for the Prime Minister’s XI against a stronger English attack.
Although his usual role is in the middle order at three or four, McSweeney was trialled as an opener in three Tests against India last year. That experiment ended unsuccessfully as he struggled against Jasprit Bumrah and was dropped after averaging just 14.4 from six innings. Since then, though, his comeback has gathered momentum — starting with a hundred for South Australia in late October and followed by scores of 103, 68, 63 and now an unbeaten 222 across the past six weeks.
Meanwhile, Usman Khawaja is targeting a return for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on December 17, but with the veteran set to turn 39 soon, whether he walks straight back into the side remains uncertain.
“I think they need a genuine opener to compliment Jake Weatherald,” Warner said on Kayo. “Because the way Jake plays you’re probably going to be hit or miss at the top of the order with two guys who like to go after the ball. That’s Australia’s problem.
“If they have a couple of innings where that does happen and they lose early wickets, that’s going to come under the microscope.”