Australia’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener against India includes a surprising addition: Nathan McSweeney.

The South Australian batter, who will make his Test debut in Perth, was selected to open alongside Usman Khawaja. His selection over experienced openers Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft has stirred intrigue, especially since McSweeney has rarely opened at first-class level.

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Chief selector George Bailey explained that his consistency in domestic cricket made him the right fit for this crucial role.

What made Nathan McSweeney stand out for the opening slot?

Bailey emphasized McSweeney’s recent performances in the Sheffield Shield, where he has shown steady improvement and a composed batting style that aligns well with Test cricket demands.

“We are just really thrilled with Nathan’s game,” Bailey said of Australia’s latest debutant. “I think over the last 12 to 15 months, we have seen a player whose growth is on a great trajectory. He is a very organised, composed player at the crease and he’s got a game that will really suit Test cricket.”

MORE: Australia announce squad for 1st Test against India: Nathan McSweeney set to open alongside Usman Khawaja

How does Goerge Bailey view Nathan McSweeney’s transition to opening?

According to Bailey, shifting from No. 3 to an opening spot isn’t a drastic change for McSweeney, given his frequent early entries during domestic matches.

Bailey expressed confidence in McSweeney’s adjustment, noting that he has often faced the new ball early in his innings due to top-order collapses.

“He can probably speak more to that but I don’t think it’s a huge adjustment to go from three to opening,” Bailey said.

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“I think in the 15 or so games that he’s been batting three for South Australia, I think he’s been in before the 10th over about 20 times, so he’s had plenty of experience. And as I said, I think his game and the way he plays, I don’t think the adjustment will be too much,” he added.

What is Nathan McSweeney’s record in First Class Cricket?

Let’s take a look at McSweeney’s first-class batting numbers: