Nathan McSweeney is a step closer to becoming the 467th Australian man to wear the baggy green cap after being named in the squad for the first Test against India in Perth.
McSweeney is the only uncapped player in the 13-man squad but in-form Western Australian keeper/batter Josh Inglis has also been named as Australia weigh up which batting line-up works best for the November 22 series opener at Optus Stadium.
Scott Boland has been included in the squad as cover for the fast bowlers but captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are expected to play after being granted time off to miss Sunday’s third ODI against Pakistan to prepare for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy assignment.
With vice-captain Steve Smith returning to his favoured position at No.4 following Cameron Green’s recent back surgery, McSweeney looks set to end up at opener alongside Usman Khawaja.
The selectors also have the option of playing McSweeney at his favoured first drop position with Marnus Labuschagne bumped up to the top of the order.
McSweeney has been on fire with the bat in the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield, racking up 291 runs at 97, including an unbeaten 127 against NSW and was Australia A’s leading performer in their win over India A in Mackay last week, top-scoring in each innings with 39 and 88 not out.
But the 25-year-old South Australian fell for just 14 in his maiden first-class innings at opener for Australia A, following that up with 25 in the second innings of their subsequent clash at the MCG which the home side won by six wickets on Saturday.
Inglis has blasted a couple of centuries for WA in the Shield and will lead a depleted Australian ODI side in Sunday’s final match of the three-game series in Perth.
Coach Andrew McDonald also has the option of bringing Inglis into the middle order with more than just Labuschagne going up the order but the selectors have previously indicated that this kind of reshuffle was unlikely.
Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “Nathan has displayed the attributes we believe will equip him well for Test cricket along with a strong recent record in domestic cricket.
“His performances for South Australia and Australia A weighed in his favour and supports our view he is ready for the opportunity at Test level.
“Similarly, Josh has been in great touch in the Sheffield Shield competition and deserves his place in his first Test squad.
“Scott has been a top-level performer when given the opportunity at Test level and remains a valued member of the squad.
“The squad is balanced and provides Andrew and Pat the options required for what shapes as a captivating series.”
Marcus Harris missed the cut after he top-scored with a typically gritty 74 in the first dig of the Australia A game at the MCG but was dismissed for a golden duck in the second innings on his home ground.
The 32-year-old Victorian averages just 25.29 from 26 Test innings with no hundreds and has not been seen in the national team since the fourth Ashes fixture at the SCG at the start of 2022.
Cameron Bancroft also went first ball on Saturday to complete a horror start to the season for the formerly prolific opener.
Nathan McSweeney. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Fellow Test hopeful Sam Konstas has also struggled for form in recent weeks to fall out of the race for the batting vacancy. Konstas made an unbeaten half-century for Australia A to get them home on Saturday but the selectors have resisted the urge to rush him into the Test team before he is ready.
David Warner – who retired from Tests in January, creating the vacancy for Smith’s short-lived stint as opener – has thrown his support behind McSweeney.
“Looks a complete player and think he’s a good fit with Uzzie up at the top of the order,” Warner said.
“Sammy Konstas comes into it, maybe in a year’s time when Uzzie hangs up the boots.”
India are coming off a humiliating 3-0 series loss at home to New Zealand with doubts hovering over their ageing squad headed by captain Rohit Sharma and fellow veteran batting star Virat Kohli.
Australia have lost the past four Border-Gavaskar series to India
Australia squad
Pat Cummins (c)
Steve Smith (vc)
Usman Khawaja
Nathan McSweeney
Marnus Labuschagne
Travis Head
Mitchell Marsh
Alex Carey
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
Scott Boland
Josh Inglis
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