Nathan McSweeney in the box seat for Test selection, after Marcus Harris failed to land a final blow in Australia A’s win over India A
Marcus Harris has likely given his main rival for the Test opening spot the upper hand with a missed opportunity in Australia A’s second innings against India A at the MCG.
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Marcus Harris failed to land a final blow in the race to be Australia’s Test opener, with a golden duck further entrenching Nathan McSweeney’s likely spot at the top of the order.
While McSweeney did not quite ram home his advantage, a dogged 25 to see off the new ball for Australia A at the MCG on Saturday indicated the South Australian captain has the temperament and technique to tame India’s quicks when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series begins in Perth on November 22.
A fighting performance from India A ensured the naming of Australia’s first Test squad would be pushed back but A skipper McSweeney is almost certain to feature when Australian selection chair George Bailey officially unveils the 13 in Melbourne on Sunday.
Set 168 for victory, Sam Konstas (73 not out) and Beau Webster (46 not out) steadied the ship to secure a six-wicket win for Australia A inside three days.
After missing out in his first three innings for the series, NSW teenager Konstas issued a reminder of why he was being seriously considered as a Test bolster in recent weeks, displaying both tidy defence and a willingness to attack.
Having compiled a gritty 74 in the first innings of the second four-day match between the A sides, Harris departed first ball to Indian paceman Prasidh Krishna via an apparent inside edge to gloveman Dhruv Jurel.
Harris’ fellow Test discard Cameron Bancroft’s nightmare run continued when he fell lbw the following ball before Konstas survived the hat-trick attempt.
WA’s Bancroft has made just 29 runs from eight first-class innings this season, killing off his hopes of a Test recall.
While McSweeney managed to withstand the early salvo, he was unable to go on with it, departing within half an hour of tea for 25 after feathering an edge from Mukesh Kumar.
Ollie Davies made a fluent 21 before playing around a delivery from spinner Tanush Kotian to leave Australia A teetering at 4-73 given the injured Michael Neser was unavailable to bat having departed the state.
Konstas dug in however, joining forces with the in-form Webster to lead Australia A to victory.
Earlier on Saturday, a fightback from the India A middle and lower order meant the tourists survived beyond lunch to make 229.
Off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli bolstered his own claims to join the squad for the Test tour of Sri Lanka, finishing with 4-74 all-rounder Webster took 3-49 to make it six wickets for the match and ensure Neser’s absence wasn’t felt too acutely. The Tasmanian’s versatility would be a tempting proposition for national selectors in weighing up who should be the reserve batter in the Test squad.
Rocchiccioli said the Test contenders had not appeared to allow the high stakes of the game get to them.
“Everyone’s been the same as what they usually are,” Rocchiccioli said.
“I’m sure there might have been some nerves for some of the batters that were auditioning for the Test spot. But yeah, I think everyone sort of held the same sort of character throughout the week. They’re a jovial bunch who like to crack some gags. So yeah, that sort of stayed throughout the game.”
Dhruv Jurel – India’s backup wicketkeeper – posted his second half-century of the match, making 68 before being well caught at cow corner by Konstas off Rocchiccioli. Jurel has done his chances little harm of being included as a specialist batter in the XI for Perth given Rishabh Pant has a mortgage over the gloveman spot.
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Originally published as Nathan McSweeney in the box seat for Test selection, after Marcus Harris failed to land a final blow in Australia A’s win over India A
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