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SYDNEY :Uncapped Nathan McSweeney has beaten out his rivals to secure the vacant spot in the Australia team for the first test against India in Perth, with head selector George Bailey backing the 25-year-old to open the batting later this month.
Former Australian skipper Tim Paine picked up young batting star Sam Konstas as a replacement for opening batter Usman Khawaja in Tests if the veteran hung up his boots. Paine was speaking on SEN as Konstas participated in the two-match unofficial Test series against India A. Konstas first taste of major success was securing the ICC U19 World Cup title win with Australia this year. In the tournament, Konstas scored 191 runs in seven innings at an average of 27.28, including a century.
Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel built a strong case for a possible Test eleven inclusion with his second successive fifty but it was not enough to prevent India A going down to Australia A by six wickets on the third day of the second and final unofficial Test in Melbourne on Saturday. With this defeat, India A lost the two-match series 0-2, as the visitors had earlier lost the first unofficial Test by seven wickets at Mackay. Resuming from overnight 73 for 5, Jurel, who made a valiant 80 in the first innings, once again stood tall amid the ruins with a patient 68 off 122 balls during which he hit five boundaries.
Well-known Australian batting coach Neil D'Costa has cited Prithvi Shaw's decline in international cricket as a cautionary example, urging Australian selectors not to "rush" 19-year-old sensation Sam Konstas into Test cricket for the blockbuster series against India. He says Konstas isn't ready for the traditional five-day format yet, joining the debate around who would partner Usman Khawaja at the top in the five-match rubber against their fierce rivals from the sub-continent.
Ishan Kishan is on a comeback trail. The wicketkeeper-batter who had been repeatedly ignored in the national team since leaving the Indian team midway from a Tour of South Africa due to personal reasons, is now playing in Australia for India A. Considered one of the most talented keepers in Indian cricket, the selection will definitely boost his career. Soon, if he continues to perform, he might get a recall in the national team also.
Former players Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy have backed Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney to take over the vacant opening slot in the national team for the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, starting in Perth on November 22. With David Warner calling it quits earlier this year and Steve Smith set to return to the his preferred number 4 spot, Australia are in need for an opening partner for Usman Khawaja. The likes of McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris are vying for the vacant spot.
A six-wicket haul from pacer Mukesh Kumar helped India A stay in the hunt during their first unofficial Test against Australia A at Mackay on Friday. Australia A started the day two at 99/4, with their captain Nathan Mcsweeney (29*) and Cooper Connolly (14*) unbeaten. Earlier, they had lost Border-Gavaskar Trophy opening spot contenders Sam Konstas (0), Cameron Bancroft (0), Marcus Harris (17) and Beau Webster (39), with Mukesh getting two of these scalps. Mukesh removed Connolly for 37, ending a 51-run partnership with McSweeney. Josh Philippe was also dismissed by Mukesh for four runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy got McSweeney for 39 in 131 balls, with four boundaries.
SYDNEY : The debate over the vacant slot at the top of the Australia batting order continues to captivate the nation's sports media a month before the opening clash in a blockbuster five-test series against India.