The Fort Worth Press - McSweeney wins race to open for Australia against India

USD -
AED 3.673026
AFN 67.499756
ALL 92.000078
AMD 387.51022
ANG 1.803294
AOA 913.502353
ARS 997.7641
AUD 1.53282
AWG 1.8015
AZN 1.698929
BAM 1.842782
BBD 2.020296
BDT 119.572592
BGN 1.842896
BHD 0.376896
BIF 2898
BMD 1
BND 1.339138
BOB 6.938791
BRL 5.749198
BSD 1.000584
BTN 84.49608
BWP 13.612807
BYN 3.274442
BYR 19600
BZD 2.01681
CAD 1.394985
CDF 2868.999783
CHF 0.882585
CLF 0.03573
CLP 985.91001
CNY 7.232599
COP 4436.5
CRC 512.023217
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 104.35012
CZK 23.922299
DJF 177.720201
DKK 7.028425
DOP 60.25002
DZD 133.442004
EGP 49.2159
ETB 122.050006
EUR 0.942202
FJD 2.26455
GBP 0.785275
GEL 2.739763
GHS 16.414998
GMD 71.504736
GNF 8631.000036
GTQ 7.732172
GYD 209.320293
HKD 7.778095
HNL 25.069979
HTG 131.605231
HUF 387.194997
IDR 15826.3
ILS 3.75608
INR 84.40135
IQD 1308.654
IRR 42104.999785
ISK 138.980053
JMD 158.989193
JOD 0.709098
JPY 154.793983
KES 129.500242
KGS 86.183085
KHR 4054.999874
KMF 460.374996
KRW 1410.255056
KWD 0.307503
KYD 0.833804
KZT 496.541912
LAK 21960.000519
LBP 89599.999816
LKR 292.59008
LRD 185.350115
LSL 18.10905
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.864965
MAD 9.920983
MDL 17.910448
MGA 4650.000011
MKD 58.007786
MMK 3247.960992
MOP 8.016734
MRU 39.895699
MUR 47.109872
MVR 15.459742
MWK 1735.000238
MXN 20.618255
MYR 4.437982
MZN 63.924998
NAD 18.11003
NGN 1672.680064
NIO 36.770234
NOK 11.088699
NPR 135.193351
NZD 1.689235
OMR 0.385022
PAB 1.000584
PEN 3.789015
PGK 4.01525
PHP 58.757982
PKR 277.950236
PLN 4.101361
PYG 7817.549678
QAR 3.64075
RON 4.688605
RSD 110.230992
RUB 98.248133
RWF 1366
SAR 3.757364
SBD 8.351256
SCR 13.560727
SDG 601.499774
SEK 10.911065
SGD 1.339671
SLE 22.801028
SOS 571.504164
SRD 35.235033
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.755465
SZL 18.110355
THB 34.909749
TJS 10.635517
TMT 3.5
TND 3.147504
TOP 2.3421
TRY 34.378995
TTD 6.799337
TWD 32.430302
TZS 2661.865001
UAH 41.439986
UGX 3676.692296
UYU 42.184909
UZS 12814.999572
VES 44.873078
VND 25350
XAF 618.080997
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.753807
XOF 614.999821
XPF 112.649739
YER 249.774997
ZAR 18.119299
ZMK 9001.205799
ZMW 27.24069
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    0.0300

    60.22

    +0.05%

  • BCC

    -2.0100

    141.13

    -1.42%

  • NGG

    -1.2400

    62.9

    -1.97%

  • CMSC

    -0.1800

    24.54

    -0.73%

  • SCS

    0.0200

    13.67

    +0.15%

  • CMSD

    -0.2100

    24.75

    -0.85%

  • RYCEF

    -0.1700

    7.16

    -2.37%

  • BCE

    -0.1600

    27.69

    -0.58%

  • RIO

    -1.4000

    61.2

    -2.29%

  • RELX

    -1.2100

    46.59

    -2.6%

  • VOD

    -0.8500

    8.47

    -10.04%

  • JRI

    -0.3000

    13.22

    -2.27%

  • GSK

    -0.8300

    35.52

    -2.34%

  • AZN

    0.4000

    65.19

    +0.61%

  • BTI

    0.0900

    35.24

    +0.26%

  • BP

    -0.7600

    28.16

    -2.7%

McSweeney wins race to open for Australia against India
McSweeney wins race to open for Australia against India / Photo: © AFP

McSweeney wins race to open for Australia against India

Nathan McSweeney won the race Sunday to open for Australia in the first of five Tests against India this month, while Josh Inglis was a surprise inclusion in their 13-man squad Sunday.

Text size:

Since David Warner retired in January, no firm contender had emerged to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the blockbuster series starting in Perth on November 22.

While Steve Smith initially stepped into the role, he failed to shine and will revert to his usual number four, behind Marnus Labuschagne.

Uncapped South Australian captain McSweeney, 25, became the front-runner after an impressive start to the domestic season.

But former Test players Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, along with rising teen star Sam Konstas, were also in the picture.

It effectively culminated in a "bat-off" in two Australia A v India A four-day red-ball clashes over the past fortnight.

McSweeney put himself in pole position with an impressive unbeaten 88 in the first match at Mackay, coming in at number four.

Promoted to open for the first time ever in the second match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, he made just 14 and 25, but selectors had seen enough.

"Nathan has displayed the attributes we believe will equip him well for Test cricket along with a strong recent record in domestic cricket," said chief selector George Bailey.

"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."

McSweeney said he was excited by the opportunity.

"I feel like my game's the best it's been, and I just can't wait to get out there and hopefully do everyone proud," he told reporters, adding that he was ready to face the first ball from India.

"I've heard that Uzzie is not the biggest fan of it (facing the opening delivery). I've already been told that by a couple of boys.

"I faced the first ball in both innings out here (against India A), so I'm comfortable with that too."

Travis Head is set to come in at five with Mitchell Marsh filling the allrounder role after Cameron Green was ruled out of the series following surgery on his spine.

Alex Carey will be behind the stumps, with white-ball opener Inglis picked ahead of Harris, Bancroft and Konstas.

Bailey had previously said Inglis was not being considered as a Test opener, meaning he will be the back-up batsman.

"Josh has been in great touch in the Sheffield Shield competition and deserves his place in his first Test squad," said Bailey.

Veteran pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc again lead the attack, alongside spin king Nathan Lyon, who will play his 130th Test in Perth, looking to add to his 530 wickets.

Scott Boland is the spare quick bowler, with fellow seamer and rival Michael Neser injured in Australia A's game in Mackay and not considered.

After Perth, the series moves to Adelaide for a day-nighter, then Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

S.Weaver--TFWP