Nathan McSweeney’s call on West Indies chances, as Sheffield Shield champion eyes Test recall

Australia’s squad depth and Steve Smith’s potential return for the second Test against the West Indies has forced Nathan McSweeney to eye another route to push his claims for a national recall.

Nathan McSweeney says he is not expecting a late call-up to the West Indies tour, anticipating Steve Smith will be fit to play the second Test.

However the South Australian captain – briefly trialled then discarded as a Test opener last summer – is hopeful he can stake his claim for a national recall by beginning with an Australia A series against Sri Lanka A next month in Darwin, conceding he didn’t strike the right balance between survival and attack in his three Tests against India.

Smith’s finger injury suffered in Australia’s World Test Championship final defeat to South Africa gave rise to the prospect that a spare batter could be sent to the West Indies as further cover.

McSweeney was a clear frontrunner had a back-up been needed given he was part of the squad that toured Sri Lanka early in the year.

However with the Aussies having ventured to the Caribbean, McSweeney remains Down Under, sitting on the Brisbane Heat table at Thursday’s Big Bash League draft.

With Josh Inglis and Sam Konstas already in the squad, McSweeney said he hadn’t heard from national selectors about a late call-up, suggesting that the Aussies would likely have enough depth to cover Smith’s likely absence from the first Test, beginning in Bridgetown next Thursday (AEST).

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Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field during the World Test Championship final. Picture: AP Photo

“From what I’m hearing, he might miss the first one, but be right for the second,” McSweeney said of Smith.

“At least I’ve got some cricket coming up. So hopefully just get back on the run train and start building my case again. And if there’s an opportunity that comes up, hopefully I’m scoring them at the right time, and can take it with both hands.”

McSweeney hasn’t played a competitive match since leading South Australia to a drought-breaking Sheffield Shield win in March.

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Nathan McSweeney celebrates a fifty for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. Picture: Getty Images

After a whirlwind season in which he catapulted into the race to partner Usman Khawaja, then won and lost a Test place, headed on an overseas tour and skippered his adopted state to a domestic double, McSweeney said he was now refreshed and raring to play again after a modest finish to the Shield campaign.

“Hopefully I can hit the ground running. A little reset was probably what I needed at the time,” he said.

Having been bogged down against India, averaging 14.40 at a strike rate of 33.96, McSweeney acknowledged he needed to play a more up-tempo game.

Nathan McSweeney averaged 14.4 against India in his firs Test series. Picture: AFP

“I think for me and probably most batters, you’re batting well when you’re really looking to score, and I think it’s more of a mental thing for me, and at times, when it gets tough, I probably go into my shell a little bit and really try and win the battle by just staying in and building momentum that way.

“At times (there) is definitely room for that. We’ve seen that, you know, Test cricket is a long game that has five days, but you’ve still got to be able to put a little bit of pressure back on the bowler. And I think when I’m batting at my best, I’m definitely doing that.

“Playing some one day cricket in this A series will help that as well, and just try and jell those two formats together for me, and I think that’s when I play my best cricket.”

Originally published as Nathan McSweeney’s call on West Indies chances, as Sheffield Shield champion eyes Test recall