It doesn’t matter how you get a start in Test cricket, all that matters is that you take the opportunity.

Nathan McSweeney has become the Stephen Bradbury of the haphazard race to fill the vacancy in the Australian batting line-up created by Cameron Green’s back surgery.

He is now all but certain to become the 467th Australian man to wear the baggy green cap after being named in the 13-man squad for the first Test against India in Perth.

Once it was confirmed that Steve Smith would be returning to his preferred No.4 slot after a mediocre four-Test stint at opener, Cameron Bancroft appeared to be the frontrunner.

But the worst slump of his career has come at the worst possible time with his golden duck in the second innings of the Australia A match on Saturday coming after scores of three, 16, duck, two and eight after starting the summer with a pair for WA.

Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw have been reserve batters in the Test squad in recent summers. Harris has one century to his name at the Junction Oval featherbed this summer while Renshaw’s form for Queensland has plummeted to such an extent that he was not even in the Australia A mix.

Sam Konstas emerged as the rising star on the horizon with dual tons for NSW but then failed in four of his next five innings against better bowling attacks and even though his unbeaten 73 guided Australia A home at the MCG, the selectors have resisted the urge to blood the teenager at Test level before he is truly ready. 

His time will come.

But for now it’s McSweeney who has the chance to establish himself in the Australian line-up. 

Josh Inglis was also chosen in the squad but he has been chosen as the spare batter with McSweeney to open alongside Usman Khawaja.

The 25-year-old South Australian has been on the selection panel’s radar for a few years but has only started to live up to his potential over the past couple of summers. 

His record of six tons at first-class level from 34 matches at an average of 38.16 does not scream world beater but all his centuries were scored in the past two years while he has averaged mid 40s.

Viewed as a potential Test captain down the track, that burden can be a heavy one but he has impressed with his tactics at Shield level for South Australia, with Brisbane Heat in the BBL and in Australia A’s dual wins over India recently. 

But first and foremost he needs to show he can cut it in the Test arena with a daunting initial assignment against Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian attack in the much-hyped Border-Gavaskar Trophy showdown. 

McSweeney’s experience as an opener at first-class level is limited to just two knocks for Australia A – he fell for just 14 in the first dig and followed that up with 25 in the second innings as the home side won by six wickets on Saturday.

He 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.

As has been demonstrated over the years with players like David Boon, Justin Langer, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Usman Khawaja, where you usually bat at domestic level is not the be-all and end-all in Test cricket.

What matters is a sound defence and the ability to capitalise on the rare moments when batters get the opportunity to get on top of the bowling attack. 

He has no better role model for his ultimate test in the five-day format than Khawaja, who was in and out of the Australian team for the best part of a decade before he became at one with his style. 

Khawaja was never going to thrive as a lavish strokemaker but early in his career, he was caught in between occupying the crease and trying to dominate the bowlers, leading to a lot of starts but not enough innings of substance.

Like most batters when they first get a start at Test level, McSweeney may struggle or only last a short amount of time before he gets the tap on the shoulder. 

But the positive aspect for the Australian side is that new blood is being introduced to an ageing team. Younger players can only get Test experience by experiencing the unique challenge it presents. 

Like the player he’s replacing in Green, he will be the only player under 30 in the XI that takes to the field at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 22. 

Inglis is 29 and the other back-up squad member, fast bowler Scott Boland is 35 so the time to regenerate is long overdue. 

Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

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.

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 while India need to win by a margin of four to ensure they qualify for next year’s World Test Championship final.

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