Who is Nathan McSweeney? The making of Australia’s newest Test cricket opener

A throwaway line in a dressing room seven years ago provides a hint of why Nathan McSweeney is suited to Test cricket, but those who know him best say he was destined for greatness from his early years.

Nathan McSweeney is in for a long Test career if he gets to wear his baggy green cap as often as his first cricket treasure – a Ricky Ponting jersey.

“We gave it to him when he was seven or eight and I think he wore it for about seven years,’’ said McSweeney’s father Scott.

“He loved Punter. We also got him one of Ricky’s Kahuna bats.’’

Scott, who runs a plastering business in Brisbane, was speaking to this masthead between his drive and chip on the first hole at Nudgee Golf Club on Sunday.

It’s normally not the time for a chat but this was a red letter day in the life of the McSweeney clan who were “very emotional’’ with tears shed when Nathan passed on the news on Saturday night he would be Australia’s 467th Test cricketer.

Following the example of someone you admire is not a bad way to lead your life and Scott McSweeney could well be describing a young Ponting when he describes his son.

“Very determined. Doesn’t like losing. Very competitive. Everything he did he worked hard at. He has had good people around him all the way through. I think it helped him that he played in higher age groups so he was often around older kids.’’

Nicknamed Buddha by a preschool teacher who felt he looked like the Buddhist icon and now seen as a future Test captain, McSweeney made his first class debut at 19 in Queensland but managed only five matches in three years (averaging just 14) before quietly moving to South Australia in 2021-22.

He played only three games for his new state in the first season before quietly gaining in confidence with one building block following another.

Nathan McSweeney grew up in Queensland before moving to South Australia.

One of McSweeney’s key mentors, former international all-rounder John Davison, was watching Cirque Du Soleil late on Saturday night when a buzzing phone with McSweeney’s name brought news the 25-year-old had been chosen to tread cricket’s high wire with no safety net.

Davison has no doubts McSweeney is ready for the challenge and his mind drifted back through the deeds of a player he first saw as a 15-year-old when Davison was Australian pathways coach.

“I remember once when he was playing second XI against Tasmania and he ducked into one from Riley Meredith,’’ Davison said.

“He had to go off but in the dressing room he was saying ‘I want to go back.’

“He wasn’t allowed to but he has always been up for the contest against fast bowling. He has scored tough runs all his career. He’s gritty. No-one knows where their off stump is better than Nathan.

“He’s a great kid and I think the Australian public will really get to love him. He’s humble, well spoken. Well rounded. Australia could not have a better selection.’’

Keen judges such as former first grade cricketer John Stackpoole, who taught McSweeney maths for three years at Nudgee and is a former First XI coach, always liked McSweeney’s potential.

“I remember watching him in grade eight and saying he was the best cricketer in the whole school. He was first XI captain in grade 11 and 12. Bowl short to him and he had that Ricky Ponting pull through mid-wicket. In class he was a nice quiet kid. He was there to work and I guess you could say his hard work paid off.’’

Originally published as Who is Nathan McSweeney? The making of Australia’s newest Test cricket opener