McSweeney firms for opener role and Test debut against India

The retirement of long-time opener David Warner at the start of the year and the return of veteran batter Steve Smith to his preferred role at No.4 has left a hole at the top of Australia’s batting order ahead of the visit of India and the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

While McSweeney has never opened at domestic level previously, Australian great Ricky Ponting recently suggested the right-hander had impressed him enough and was the obvious choice to partner regular opener Usman Khawaja at the top of the order against India.

“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 said on the most recent episode of 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.”