"Just want everyone to be positive" - David Warner rubbishes Ed Cowan's comments on Nathan McSweeney's selection for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25

Retired Australian opener David Warner has backed Nathan McSweeney as an opener after fellow Aussie Ed Cowan labeled it as a selection guess. Warner reckons McSweeney deserves an opportunity and feels he has the potential to succeed.

Despite not opening in first-class cricket, the selectors have given the 25-year-old an opportunity at the highest level for the upcoming Test series against india. With Cowan naming the move as a "selection guess" in a recent interaction, chief selector George Bailey revealed that they found his technique to be sound and that the youngster has the temperament to succeed.

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Warner wants everyone to think positively and wish McSweeney well. He said:

"I just want everyone to be positive and wish him well. I think he can go out there and have a few games and he might score runs, he might not score runs, (but) let him have a chance. Let him explore the greatness of playing cricket for Australia and finding a new position for himself. I don’t think it was a guess - those were Ed’s words - but from that perspective I think he’s thoroughly deserved it."

McSweeney had captained Australia A to a 2-0 series win over India A recently. He notably scored an unbeaten 88 in the first four-day Test at Mckay and showed considerable promise as an opener in the second.

"I like the way that he goes about his business" - David Warner on Nathan McSweeney

Warner also observed that McSweeney has earned the right to get an opportunity and learn on the job. On this, the 38-year-old added:

"And what he’s shown is that he is compact, I like the way that he goes about his business, he’s definitely got the technique to play Test cricket and he’ll learn as he gets along."

The first of the five Tests between India and Australia begins on November 22 in Perth.