Australia A skipper Nathan McSweeney scored a crucial 74 against India A to bolster his chances of a recall for the upcoming Ashes series.
McSweeney strengthens case for Ashes call-up
McSweeney, who made his debut against India at Perth last year, was sidelined mid-series after managing 72 runs in six innings at an average of 14.4. He was then picked to tour Sri Lanka, but did not get a game, and has not been picked in the Test squads since, for either the World Test Championship final or the series against the West Indies.
In the last three months, McSweeney has been part of two A squads - the one that faced Sri Lanka A at home and another that is currently travelling to India. He started the series against Sri Lanka A with a fine 94, ending as the joint-top run-scorer in the innings. He could only manage 12 in the second game and made one in the first Test against India A, but played a lone hand at the top of the order at the Ekana Stadium today (September 23).
Walking out at No.3 after the early dismissal of Campbell Kellaway, he combined with Sam Konstas, with whom he will likely fight for a place in the Ashes XI. While Konstas fell one run short of his fifty, McSweeney got his 15th first-class half-century, eventually managing 74 in 162 balls with ten fours. No other batter from the top six got a fifty, with Australia A being reduced to 202-5 after 56 overs, before Jack Edwards led a counter-attack from No.7, smashing 88 off 78 balls to help Australia A cross 350.
2nd unofficial Test, India A vs Australia A
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Is McSweeney likely to get an Ashes call-up?
The short answer is yes, with Australia still on the lookout for an opener to bat alongside Usman Khawaja against England. Six different openers have been tried alongside Khawaja since the start of 2024, but the only player to average over 30 (David Warner) has long retired. Travis Head is the other opener to average in excess of 30, but he is unlikely to play at the top, with pundits calling for him to bat at No.3 instead.
Australia’s No.3 slot is wide open as well, with Marnus Labuschagne’s poor form leading to him being axed for the recent tour of the Caribbean. Cameron Green, who batted at three then, is likely to resume his role as an all-rounder in the Ashes and bat down the order, leaving plenty of vacancies up the top.
McSweeeny will also have a full month of the Sheffield Shield to impress, with the third round concluding on October 31, ahead of the Ashes squad announcement, which is likely to be made in early November.
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