Australian Test side 2024-25: How Nathan McSweeney could be our next debutant as opener debate heats up

Selectors put the cart before the horse when they picked Nathan McSweeney for the Australia A side last year. But now they could be repaid in spades by the man who could be our next Test debutant.

Australia’s Test selectors were so convinced Nathan McSweeney was a leader of men they broke an old tradition to prove it.

Test coach Andrew McDonald has praised fellow selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide for choosing McSweeney for the Australia A side captaincy last year when his first class average was floating around 28.

That is not an imposing number but the selectors hoped his batting would eventually match his leadership skills. The gap is closing – fast.

Normally the Australian way is to pick a team on results and then choose the best leader from the batch, but they liked the cut of McSweeney’s leadership jib so they went the other way round.

Nathan McSweeney could make his Test debut this summer. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

McSweeney, 25, is touted as a future Test captain if he can make it work as a batsman, but has not yet had a full Sheffield Shield summer where he has averaged over 40.

However, he is in the form of his life entering Thursday‘s Australia A game in Mackay where he will be in a shootout for first Test selection against India.

His most recent scores of 55, 127 not out, 37, 72 and 137 for South Australia have put him into the reckoning for the vacant opening spot in Australia’s first Test team even though he bats at three for his state.

Some people think his grit will carry him to a 100 Test career – but first he has to play one.

His progress has not surprised former Australian white ball batsman Jimmy Maher who, like McSweeney, went to Brisbane’s Nudgee College. Maher has vivid memories of setting eyes on McSweeney a 15-year-old a decade ago.

“I remember walking past the nets and seeing him batting and saying “who is that?’,” Maher said.

“Some kids just stand out. You could tell he had something about him.”

Marnus Labuschagne, who has mentored McSweeney to the point where the youngster hoped Marnus’s bat tapping on the ground during Facetime chats did not keep his family awake, has no doubt McSweeny has international potential.

Nathan McSweeney has been in the form of his life. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.

When asked last week whether McSweeney was an Australian player of the future, Labuschagne replied: “Yeah, absolutely”.

“He’s a very good player. And not just batting. Everything he brings like bowling and leadership. You never know, this summer could be his opportunity.’’

McSweeney also showed a flair for other sports including golf – he plays off a handicap of two in Adelaide.

When former world champion boxer Jeff Horn saw McSweeney in sparring practice in a gym he remarked “you have obviously done this before.’’

Former international all-rounder Jon Davison is a friend and mentor of McSweeney’s and monitored his rise from close range.

“He is always a popular team member – people like being around him,’’ Davison said.

“He has always had the ability to bat to whatever the circumstances require. He reads the game well.’’

Originally published as Australian Test side 2024-25: How Nathan McSweeney could be our next debutant as opener debate heats up