"It’s a tough ask and, personally, I would prefer a specialist opener" - Michael Hussey expresses doubts over McSweeney at the top against India
Former Australia batter Michael Hussey feels the Aussie team management should have gone for a specialist opener instead of Nathan McSweeney for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The South Australia batter won the race on the back of his impressive start in the Sheffield Shield and recent knocks against India A.
Australia were in the dark after moving Steve Smith back to No. 4, leaving them in search of an opening batter again. Several domestic opening prospects such as Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris were in the hunt, and so was emerging batter Sam Konstas.
However, middle-order batter McSweeney convinced the selection committee in the end. He opened the batting in the second unofficial Test against India A, scoring 14 and 25 in the first and the second innings, respectively.
Michael Hussey opined that it would be a tough ask for a makeshift opener to face the new ball against a potent Indian seam bowling attack right off the bat.
“I think it’s a tough ask to ask him to play his first Test match as an opening batsman against India in a huge series when he hasn’t opened before in first class cricket apart from last week in the India A clash,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket’s broadcast of the third ODI between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium.
"It’s not easy at all. I know people will say Simon Katich and Shane Watson have done it in the past. They moved from the middle-order up to the top order, but they played 20-30 Test matches before they made the move. It’s a tough ask and, personally, I would (prefer a specialist opener), but I think the Australian selectors’ philosophy is picking the best six batters in the country, and then we’ll figure the order out after that," Hussey added.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to begin on November 22. The Optus Stadium in Perth will host the first of the five Tests.
"I don't think it's a huge adjustment to go from three to opening" - George Bailey backs McSweeney to succeed
Chief selector George Bailey defended McSweeney's inclusion and noted that the batter is not a makeshift opener as he has considerable experience of facing the new ball on the domestic circuit.
"I don't think it's a huge adjustment to go from three to opening. I think in the 15 or so games that he's been batting at three for South Australia, I think he's been in before the 10th over about 20 times. He's had plenty of experience. I think his game and the way he plays, I don't think the adjustment will be too much," chief selector George Bailey said following McSweeney's inclusion in the squad.
Much like Australia, Team India are also in the hunt for an opening batter for the initial part of the series owing to Rohit Sharma's unavailability. The likes of KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and even Dhruv Jurel are being considered for the first Test.