National selection chair George Bailey keeping a close eye on leading contenders for the Test opener spot ahead of a final shootout
It appears the race for the Australian men’s Test opening spot is down to two and national selection chair George Bailey is keeping a close eye on the contenders, as a decision draws nearer.
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National selection chair George Bailey watched from the rear of the MCG nets as batting candidates Nathan McSweeney and Marcus Harris prepared for their final auditions for the Test opening vacancy.
Cricket Australia confirmed on Wednesday that South Australian skipper McSweeney would be promoted to open alongside Harris when the second Australia A clash with India A begins on Thursday, pitting the two leading contenders for the job of partnering Usman Khawaja in one final shootout before the squad for the first Test against India is named next week.
Specialist Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas have been listed to bat at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, an apparent indication that they are outsiders in the race to fill the spot in Australia’s top six left open by a season-ending back injury to Cameron Green.
It will be the first time McSweeney has opened the batting in first-class cricket, but it comes on the back of an outstanding start to the season including an unbeaten 88 in the winning Australia A run chase on the weekend in Mackay.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald has indicated the selectors would wait until after the completion of the second A match to finalise the Test squad ahead of the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth on November 22.
Having initially joined in the warm-up before training, Bailey stood at the back of nets before a thunderstorm interrupted the session on Wednesday.
Harris worked closely with his former Victorian coach Lachlan Stevens – who is coaching the A team – while McSweeney received throwdowns from former Test skipper Tim Paine, who is also assisting during the A series.
Off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who will line up in the A game as he seeks to secure a spot in the squad for the Test tour of Sri Lanka, lauded McSweeney’s determination.
“He just wants to grind you down, like he’s just so good at being able to be consistent over long periods of time. You’ve got to be on and you’ve got t bowl for really long periods of time to him, and hopefully he makes a mistake, but he’s just very consistent,” Rocchiccioli said.
“He’s very consistent in his approach. I’ve had a couple of MRF tours (in India) with him. It just seems like he hates getting out and he just wants to be there for long periods of time. So I’m usually trying to get into his head when we play Shield cricket and throw some banter. He doesn’t, sort of stays in his bubble. So that’s the only frustrating part. He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
Former Test opener David Warner said McSweeney deserved a chance at Test level but that Konstas’ time could yet come.
“I said this the other day, think Nathan McSweeney has the runs on the board,” Warner said.
“But if you look further down the track as well, know you have Marnus (Labuschagne), Travis Head and Mitch Marsh, but leadership potential as well, he’s leading South Australia and he’s 24/25. Looks a complete player and think he’s a good fit with Uzzie up at the top of the order, think that’s where Sammy Konstas comes into it, maybe in a year’s time when Uzzie hangs up the boots. We’re in a good position, there’s a lot of talent which is exciting.”
While Test captain Pat Cummins has left the door ajar for Marnus Labuschagne to shift to the top, Warner urged against such a move.
“I feel sorry for Usman if Marnus opens … he can do the job, but then you are opening up another hole where Marnus has been there for a while,” Warner said.
“We chopped and changed with Smithy (Steve Smith) doing that role as well. Don’t think you need to upset that three and four, I know what Smudge’s (Smith’s) stance was on that, him going up then coming back, so don’t think you need to change. That’s supposed to be your foundation for five-10 years, so hopefully that sticks together. You’ve got Smudge who potentially could be hanging them up in the next 18 months, then Greeny (Cameron Green) slots back in. Like I said, we are in a great position for the next five or six years with the talent coming through.”
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