SYDNEY: Uncapped Nat­han McSweeney has beaten out his rivals to secure the vacant batting spot in the Australia team for the first Test against India in Perth later this month.

Australia has been eng­rossed for weeks in a hea­ted debate over who should take the spot left open in the batting order by the season-ending injury to all-rounder Cameron Green.

With Steve Smith’s brief period as a Test opener already signalled as being over, McSweeney looks to have got the nod to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order when the first of five Tests against India gets underway on Nov. 22.

Uncapped batter Josh Inglis was also named in the 13-man on Sunday but he is expected to provide injury cover for wicket-keeper Alex Carey.

“Nathan has displayed the attributes we believe will equip him well for Test cricket along with a strong recent record in domestic cricket,” head selector George Bailey said in a news release. “Similarly, Josh has been in great touch in the Sheffield Shield competition and deserves his place in his first Test squad.” McSweeney, who usually plays at number three for his state Queensland, scored 14 and 25 in his two innings as an opener in the “A” match against India in Melbourne which concluded on Saturday.

Squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024