"He's got a unique action" - Nathan McSweeney on facing Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Set to open the innings for Australia in the first Test against India, Nathan McSweeney said he is gearing up to face Jasprit Bumrah. The all-rounder added that Bumrah's unique action will be tricky to pick up and mimic.
McSweeney, who impressed with his recent domestic and Australia A performances, is set to partner Usman Khawaja at the top. The 25-year-old hasn't opened the innings in Sheffield Shield cricket, but the selectors have placed faith in him to get the job done.
Speaking on SEN Radio, the Queenslander revealed that he has watched a few clips of the Indian bowlers and has visualized how to negate them. He said:
"I’ll definitely dive a lot deeper into it when I get to Perth, but I can't help myself. I've looked at a few clips of what they're bowling attack stacks up like. I’m just trying to visualise how I'm going to go about it. Facing a new bowler can be a slight challenge to just pick up their action. But there’s probably not (much you can do to replicate how Bumrah bowls). Obviously he's got a unique action, he's one of the best bowlers in the world, so it's going to be hard to mimic that, that's for sure."
Bumrah was one of the chief architects of India's last two series wins over Australia in their backyard. The right-arm speedster has claimed 32 wickets in seven Tests Down Under at 21.25 apiece.
"No doubt there's plenty of learning and experiences that I haven't experienced yet" - Nathan McSweeney
McSweeney remarked that he has been at his best of late and is keen to test himself against one of the most reputed bowling line-ups in the world. He added in the same interview:
"In the last month or so, I really feel like I'm batting the best I ever have. No doubt there's plenty of learning and experiences that I haven't experienced yet and I'm looking forward to learning all about the challenges of Test cricket and challenging my game against the very best. Being an opening batter, it’s making sure I'm leaving the ball well and making the bowlers are bowling to me."
The first of the five Tests begins on November 22 in Perth.