Nathan McSweeney has faced 6781 deliveries in his professional career. His No.1 fan has seen almost every one

Nathan McSweeney was just four when he told his grandfather he would one day play for Australia.

When Australia’s next Test cricketer makes good on that 21-year-old vow on Friday, Terry McSweeney will be there – as he has for pretty much every game his grandson has played.

When it comes to McSweeney’s fan club, there is no more dedicated supporter than Terry, his paternal grandfather, who flies around the country at his own expense to watch McSweeney play.

Nathan McSweeney (middle) with his father Scott (left) and grandfather Terry (right).Credit: @nathan_mcsweeney Instragram account

Club, state or Big Bash League, it does not matter. Terry is there. He has also travelled overseas to watch McSweeney lead the Australia A team.

“He doesn’t miss a ball, Grandad,” McSweeney told the ABC after his selection in the Test squad a fortnight ago.

That’s not entirely true. Terry has been there for all but a few of 6781 balls McSweeney has faced at professional level, missing the odd game since the 25-year-old moved from Queensland to South Australia in 2021. But there would not be a person in the world, even chief national selector George Bailey, who has seen the boy from Brisbane play more.

McSweeney in action for Australia A.Credit: Getty Images

Such dedication was more manageable when Terry only had to drive a few minutes to watch McSweeney play for Northern Suburbs in Brisbane’s grade competition. It became less so when he reached state level and moved to Adelaide. Just don’t remind Terry how much he has spent on airfares and accommodation.

“I don’t want to know about it,” he joked.

Terry, who has worked with horses for much of his life, does not have extravagant tastes, so he can do without five-star hotels.

“I’ve been a horseman all my life with horse shows, so I’ve slept under trucks,” Terry said. “As long as everything is clean and tidy, I’m happy.”

Like many who watch their loved ones bat, Terry gets edgy. He’s superstitious as well and won’t move out of his seat until there’s a break.

“I think I got third-degree burns the day he scored the hundred against Western Australia in Adelaide,” Terry said. “I’m too silly to get out of the sun. I came home like a lobster.”

It is not until McSweeney reaches 20 when Terry begins to relax. Thankfully, McSweeney has a far more philosophical attitude to cope with the ups and downs of a sport where there are usually more downs than ups.

“I think he’s pretty calm. I did ask him if he got nervous when you go out to bat,” Terry said. “He said ‘I used to. Now I know there’s a ball that’s got my name on it. I’ve just got to hope I’ve scored a hundred before that ball comes’.”

Terry is just as attentive even after McSweeney is dismissed, finding joy in watching his grandson marshal the troops in the field.

Remarkably for a man who watches so much cricket and volunteers at his local club, Terry, 79, did not like the game as a kid. Rugby league was his number one sporting love. That all changed when McSweeney warmed to the sport.

“When he was four, he told me he would play cricket for Australia,” Terry recalled this week. “I said ‘what you mean to say is you’d like to play cricket for Australia’.

“He said ‘no, Grandad, I will play cricket for Australia’.”

When McSweeney was named captain of Australia’s under-17 side, Terry reminded his grandson of that conversation, thinking the reality of 26 million not fitting into 11 had finally dawned on him. He was mistaken.

“We were down at the carnival in Adelaide. I said to him ‘well mate, you’ve done what you’ve told Grandad you were going to do’. He said ‘this isn’t the team I was talking about’.”

But don’t for a second confuse McSweeney’s confidence with arrogance. McSweeney has always been grounded. As a kid, he would not let anyone carry his kitbag.

“He’d say ‘that’s mine, Grandad, I’m responsible for that’,” Terry said.

Though he was usually the best player in his team as a junior, he would always encourage his teammates, Terry said.

“He was never above them, if there was a kid having a problem he’d be there to help,” Terry said. “That’s gone on right the way through. That’s what makes him a captain.”

It has finally sunk in for Terry that McSweeney will this week become baggy green No.467 in Perth.

“It’s great, he’s worked hard all his life for this,” Terry said. “This was his dream. I’m proud of him.”

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