Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney ‘ready’ for Test cricket

One of the four batters vying for a Test opening spot has made a bold statement on the eve of his selection audition for Australia A.

Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney is confident he could handle the pressure of an opening berth against India if he’s given the nod for the Test series.

The South Australian right-hander is one of four main candidates to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order who will be auditioned from Thursday as Australia A faces India A in the first of two four-day games.

McSweeney suggested he was preparing for a middle-order role in the Mackay game but was tight-lipped about whether the selectors had plans for him to move up the order for the MCG clash from November 7.

Speaking from Mackay ahead of the game at Great Barrier Reef Arena, the 25-year-old said he would be comfortable opening the batting and “embraced the chat” about his Test prospects.

Nathan McSweeney is set to bat in the middle order in the Australia A clash in Mackay, but could bolt into the Australian Test squad as an opener. Picture: Mark Evans / Getty Images

Likely first-game opening duo Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, along with New South Wales teen sensation Sam Konstas, are the others in the hunt for the vacant position.

“I think (I would feel confident) … I think I’m playing probably the best cricket I have,” McSweeney said.

“Batting three for South Australia and pretty much my whole career, it’s not too dissimilar to opening – I feel like you can be in there the first over of the game, (and) all my prep’s with the new ball.

“I feel like my game is ready – hopefully I can get an opportunity, if not I’ll keep trying to get better.”

McSweeney began his Sheffield Shield campaign with scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72, and plastered a maiden one-day hundred against Queensland in the white-ball competition on Friday.

He insisted he felt no added pressure coming into the Australia A game, where he will take on a bowling attack featuring Test fast bowling hopefuls Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar.

McSweeney has already made two half-centuries and two tons in all formats this summer. Picture: (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“I don’t think (there’s added pressure). Being talked about playing for your country is a great honour, and I’m trying to embrace the chat.

“All I can do is prepare the best I can … I think I’m playing some really good cricket. I feel like my game is progressing each year, and hopefully I can continue to do that.

“I think as a kid, your dream is to play for Australia and get a baggy green, and it’s a great opportunity no doubt.

“All I can do is try and control my own preparation, and hopefully go out there and play the way I want to. I guess what will be, will be.”

Australian head selector George Bailey said earlier this week the Aus A batting order would be shuffled ahead of the second match depending on whether “there’s something else we want to have a look at”.

“We’ve got three players who open the batting for their state and we’ve got one player who bats at three for their state – (we have) four top-order batters to try and fit into three, so there will be some adjustments there,” Bailey said.

Originally published as Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney ‘ready’ for Test cricket