Good judges insist Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney is on the cusp of Test selection, where an opening slot is up for grabs ahead of the series against India.
Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has the 25-year-old at the top of his list to replace David Warner as opener, while Test No.3 Marnus Labuschagne regards him as an Australian player in-waiting.
McSweeney will captain Australia A against India A on Thursday in Mackay with quality runs behind him already this summer.
Nathan McSweeney of the Redbacks celebrates scoring a century during the Sheffield Shield match between Tasmania and South Australia at Blundstone Arena, on March 11, 2024, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
He has scored 291 Sheffield Shield runs in his previous four innings, including an unbeaten 127 against NSW, and made 137 from 131 balls in the One-Day Cup clash against Queensland in what Lehmann referred to in commentary as “one of the best one-day innings we have seen”.
Lehmann said McSweeney and NSW 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas were front-runners to replace Warner.
“Against India and England (in 2025-26) where you are up against quality fast bowling you want someone who bats at the top of the order, and for me at the moment it is down to two … Konstas and McSweeney,” Lehmann said.
“I am probably (leaning towards) McSweeney. I have seen a bit more of him of late. I haven’t seen enough of Sam. There is a theory with Sam that he gets beaten on the inside a bit and plays away from his body, and I have seen that, but I still think he is a very fine player.
“He is making runs and that is all you can do, just as McSweeney made another hundred. If it gets down to form, you can pick one of those two.”
Lehmann also said the pair had plenty to offer for years to come.
‘”Because they are young I don’t mind it because they could be 75-Test players, and we have got older and experienced guys to help out … so if we are ever going to pick a young one we can do it now,” he said.
Queensland captain Labuschagne got to see McSweeney close-up in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup clashes against South Australia last week.
He said McSweeney was on the cusp of Australian selection.
“Absolutely. He is a very good player, and not just his batting,” Labuschagne said.
“It’s everything else he brings in the field, his bowling and his leadership style.
“This summer could be his opportunity. He has just got to keep going like he is now. If he keeps scoring runs he could put pressure on the selectors to pick him. He has certainly been very good so far this season and was very good last season as well.”
McSweeney, who mostly bats at No.3, said he had not opened in List A or Shield cricket but would be prepared to do so in Test cricket.
“Batting at No.3 your preparation is similar,” he said.
“All my prep is with the new ball, and sometimes you are in on the second ball of the game.
“As a kid it was a dream to get a baggy green and I will bat wherever.
“I have been lucky enough to get picked for Australia A again, which is a great opportunity for me to test my game.
“I feel like my game keeps progressing, which is a pleasing thing and hopefully I can continue do that.”
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