Australia’s main man, Steve Smith, is set to return to his preferred number 4 position as India head to Australia for the much-anticipated five-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting on November 22 in Perth.
There has been a plenty of debate around who might open Australia's batting along with Usman Khawaja and fill the big shoes of the retired David Warner.
Even Steve Smith had tried his hand at opening the innings after the retirement of David Warner but has now taken the sensible step of going back to No.4 after indifferent results.
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On Sunday, Australia announced a 13-man squad for the first Test match against India in Perth where Nathan McSweeney was included. This clearly indicated that the 25-year-old will get make his debut against India.
Let's take a look at who McSweeney is and see what he brings to the table.
Who is Nathan McSweeney?
McSweeney is a 25-year-old Queensland batsman who is likely to make his debut against India at Perth on November 22.
He recently featured in the Australia A vs India A game in Mackay and scored 39 and an unbeaten 88 in the second innings to guide his team to a win. It is to be noted that he batted at number 4 in the game but the selectors feel he can do a job up top.
The right-handed batter was also the captain of the team that won against India A.
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His recent performances include 291 runs for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield 2024/25 season in just 2 matches, averaging 97 including 2 fifties and a 127* against New South Wales. He also scored a 137 in Queensland vs South Australia List A game, late in October 2024.
McSweeney can also roll his arm over whenever needed and bowl decent right-arm off break.
Prithvi Shaw's batchmate set to make India debut
McSweeney was named in the Australian for the U19 World Cup in 2018. The batter scored 211 runs in four innings in the tournament and was in action in the final against the Prithvi Shaw-led India team.
The right-hand batter scored 23 runs in the final as the Aussies managed to put up a humble total of just 216 runs which India comfortably chased down with Shaw lifting the title.
However, McSweeney and Shaw's senior careers have gone in different directions. Soon after the World Cup, Shaw was picked for the senior team, however, his inconsistencies over the next three years meant that the India opener was permanently out of the national team since the Australia tour in 2021.
Recently, the Mumbai-based batter was ousted from the Ranji Trophy team due to fitness concerns while McSweeney is now all set to make his debut as an opener in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
What is Nathan McSweeney’s record in First Class Cricket?
Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Highest | 50/100 |
33 | 65 | 2213 | 38.82 | 127* | 12/6 |
Matches | Innings | Wickets | Economy | Avg/SR | Best Figures |
33 | 28 | 16 | 3.13 | 33.68/64.4 | 4/89 |
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