With the Australian selectors naming 25-year-old Nathan McSweeney in the 13-member Australian squad for the first Test match of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22, former Test batsman Michael Hussey has voiced his reservation about the debutant batsman as an opener. While Nathan McSweeney opened for the first time in his First Class career during the second unofficial Test against India A for Australia A, Hussey terms the decision as a tough ask.
With CA announcing the squad for the first Test, set to commence from November 22 in Perth, several pundits questioned the selection of South Australia captain Nathan McSweeney, who is set to open alongside veteran Usman Khawaja.
Nathan McSweeney’s domestic career and his selection at the highest level for the all important BGT 2024-25
Nathan McSweeney, who was tipped to be Usman Khwaja’s opening partner since days, has a First Class average of 38.16 in 34 matches. He opened against India A in the second unofficial Test at Melbourne earlier this week and played knocks of 14 and 25 in the match. With Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Kontas too in contention for the opening slot, it was Nathan McSweeney who was picked by the Australian selectors led by George Bailey for the opening Test match against India.
Nathan McSweeney will become the 467th Australian to don the Baggy Green during his debut against India. The selectors also named wicket-keeper batsman Josh Inglis. With Alex Carey too in the 13-member squad, former Australian opener Adam Gilchrist counted the move as an untraditional one.
Nathan McSweeney, a South Australia batter, was selected based on his strong performances in the Sheffield Shield and recent impressive knocks against India A. However, Micheal Hussey believes the management should have opted for a specialist opener, given the challenges of facing India’s potent seam attack in the high-stakes series.
Michael Hussey expresses doubts over Nathan McSweeney at the top against India in BGT 2024-25
Former Australia batter Michael Hussey feels the Aussie team management should have gone for a specialist opener instead of Nathan McSweeney for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The South Australia batter won the race on the back of his impressive start in the Sheffield Shield and recent knocks against India A.
Australia were in the dark after moving Steve Smith back to No. 4, leaving them in search of an opening batter again. Several domestic opening prospects such as Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris were in the hunt, and so was emerging batter Sam Kontas.
However, middle-order batter Nathan McSweeney convinced the selection committee in the end. He opened the batting in the second unofficial Test against India A, scoring 14 and 25 in the first and the second innings, respectively.
Michael Hussey opined that it would be a tough ask for a makeshift opener to face the new ball against a potent Indian seam bowling attack right off the bat.
“I think it’s a tough ask to ask him to play his first Test match as an opening batsman against India in a huge series when he hasn’t opened before in first class cricket apart from last week in the India A clash,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket’s broadcast of the third ODI between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium.
“It’s not easy at all. I know people will say Simon Katich and Shane Watson have done it in the past. They moved from the middle-order up to the top order, but they played 20-30 Test matches before they made the move. It’s a tough ask and, personally, I would (prefer a specialist opener), but I think the Australian selectors’ philosophy is picking the best six batters in the country, and then we’ll figure the order out after that,” Hussey added.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to begin on November 22. The Optus Stadium in Perth will host the first of the five Tests.
George Bailey backs Nathan McSweeney to succeed in BGT 2024-25
Chief selector George Bailey defended McSweeney’s inclusion and noted that the batter is not a makeshift opener as he has considerable experience of facing the new ball on the domestic circuit.
“I don’t think it’s a huge adjustment to go from three to opening. I think in the 15 or so games that he’s been batting at three for South Australia, I think he’s been in before the 10th over about 20 times. He’s had plenty of experience. I think his game and the way he plays, I don’t think the adjustment will be too much,” chief selector George Bailey said following McSweeney’s inclusion in the squad.
Much like Australia, Team India are also in the hunt for an opening batter for the initial part of the series owing to Rohit Sharma’s unavailability. The likes of KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and even Dhruv Jurel are being considered for the first Test.