Nathan McSweeney navigated a fierce challenge as Australia’s gun quicks and Nathan Lyon peppered him at the WACA on Monday, challenging the new opener as he closes in on his Test debut ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

The 25-year-old then negotiated another test as reporters quizzed him on the pointed comments of former Test opener Ed Cowan, who said on his ABC Grandstand Cricket Podcast last week that McSweeney didn’t deserve his national call-up and argued selectors had taken a “guess” in picking him.

Four days out from the first match of Australia’s five-Test series against India, taking place at Perth’s Optus Stadium from Friday, McSweeney padded up to face Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon in a centre-wicket session at the WACA.

READ MORE: Stunning Stoinis innings lifts Aussies to clean-sweep

READ MORE: AFL great claims Carey’s a ‘good guy’ after snubbing

READ MORE: ‘Next important step’: Magic Round to light up NRLW

“I have the guys in my corner I really trust and I value their opinion and I haven’t spent heaps of time with Ed,” McSweeney said.

“I think for me I know what works and I feel very capable to go and do the job and I’m batting the best I ever have, I feel. Hopefully I can go out there and execute that on Friday.

“It [Cowan’s criticism] happened quite quickly. You’re playing a bit of Big Bash, but there’s definitely more talk around playing for your country, as there should be; it’s what you wanted to do since you were a kid.

“Being able to lean on the guys who have experienced it, it doesn’t change the way I prepare or try and go out and play.”

McSweeney beat Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas in an intriguing scrap for an opening spot, which was vacated by David Warner’s Test retirement and Steve Smith’s return to No.4.

The 25-year-old bats at No.3 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, but will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order against India.

“I’ve got so many supporters I want to make proud; so much family that’s sacrificed so much to get to where I am today and so many coaches that have thrown that many balls to me,” McSweeney added.

“Hopefully I can go out there and play really well and do them proud.”

While Warner typically batted with aggression in a Test career that spanned 112 matches, McSweeney is expected to accumulate runs at a slower pace as he tries to establish himself at the top of the Australian order.

In Australia A’s tour matches against India A, the right-hander left a high percentage of balls and nudged a lot of deliveries into gaps for ones or twos.

He made 39 from 131 and 88 from 179 in Mackay, before registering 14 from 30 and 25 from 69 in Melbourne.

“Dave was an unbelievable player and I’m definitely very different to him in terms of how I play the game,” McSweeney said.

“Being busy at the crease and I’m always looking to score. May not look like that at times, but able to spend a lot of time in the middle and hopefully put Australia in a better position for the other batters to be able to come in and really dominate.

“In my Shield career it’s always been slightly favourable to the bowlers. Leaving the ball really well, making the bowlers really come to me and spending a lot of time out there and wearing them down and picking them off when they do miss and run hard between the wickets and be busy. If I can spend a lot of time out there it’s going to be good for Australia and hopefully put us in a really good position.”