Former Test opener Ed Cowan slams Nathan McSweeney’s selection as opener for India series

Former Test opener Ed Cowan has slammed the selection of untried opener Nathan McSweeney for the Test series with India as a “guess”.

Former Test opener Ed Cowan has slammed the selection of untried opener Nathan McSweeney as a “guess”.

McSweeney bats No.3 for South Australia yet has beaten a field of specialist openers including 19-year-old New South Welshman Sam Konstas and veterans Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft to a stunning debut against India in the bouncy Perth cauldron next week.

Cowan played 18 Tests for Australia, mostly as an opener and amassed 25 first-class centuries specialising at the top of the order and has accused the national selection panel of potentially jeopardising the trust of the entire Sheffield Shield competition by taking a punt on McSweeney.

Australian batsman Nathan McSweeney’s selection has been slammed by former Test opener Ed Cowan. Picture: AFP

The current Cricket NSW board member on his ABC Grandstand Cricket Podcast with Corbin Middlemas read out every one of McSweeney’s scores when coming out to bat inside the first 10 overs which he says shows the South Australian is not up to the task of facing the new ball against Indian master Jasprit Bumrah in a Test match.

“He has two scores over 50 – 53 and 67 against NSW. Here are his other scores; 22, 32, 10, 0, 12, 48, 36, 15, 20, 25, 11, 0, 7 and 0,” Cowan said on the podcast.

“I feel slight vindication in many respects suggesting that he’s not an opening batter and the Australian selectors were looking for a data point this week.

“We said if he’s going to open for Australia he needs to open this week (for Australia A against India A at the MCG).

Former Australian and NSW cricketer Ed Cowan, pictured at his retirement announcement in 2018, described Nathan McSweeney’s selection as dangerous guesswork. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“They were begging for a data point. You know what they got? They got an open blade.

“Because that was money for jam (McSweeney’s dismissals opening the batting for Australia A) behind the wickets in both innings.

“Forty five degree bat, caught at second slip (14, first innings), caught behind (25, second innings).

“The data would suggest at the moment in his career, he doesn’t have the technique nor the temperament to do it.”

Cowan played a large part of his first-class career alongside national selector George Bailey with Tasmania, but accused his former teammate and his colleagues on the panel Andrew McDonald and Tony Dodemaide of dangerous guesswork.

“And do you know what a selection, when the data doesn’t support your point of view, is?” Cowan said.

“It’s a guess. It’s a guess.

“And you know what guesses do? Guesses sometimes pay off, but that’s called luck.

“And if they don’t (pay off), they actually dilute the players’ confidence, as in the whole playing group in first class cricket right through, as to the confidence as to what it takes and what they need to do to get selected.”

Bailey made it clear when announcing the team on Sunday that they feel McSweeney is a young player on the rise, and don’t believe rising from No.3 in Sheffield Shield cricket, to opening the batting in a Test is a quantum leap.

Selector George Bailey made it clear when announcing the team that they feel Nathan McSweeney is a young player on the rise. Picture: Getty Images

McSweeney has made scores of 55, 127 not out, 37, 72, 39, 88 not out as well as 137 off 131 balls in a one-day match, before his more mediocre performances opening for Australia A in the final audition before the teams were chosen.

“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.

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

“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.”

As a 25-year-old, McSweeney was seven years younger than his main rival, Marcus Harris, who has played 14 Tests for an average of 25.

Originally published as Former Test opener Ed Cowan slams Nathan McSweeney’s selection as opener for India series