Australian News – No. 3 McSweeney is confident of opening against India if the opportunity arises

Despite batting at number 3 for South Australia, McSweeney remains in contention and has a chance to make his Test debut, having started the Sheffield Shield season brilliantly with scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72. .

He has been heralded as a future Test captain highlighted by his appointment as Australia’s captain, a role he has held many times before. McSweeney also led the Premier’s XI once, and captained the Brisbane Heat to the BBL title last season.

McSweeney’s form and highly regarded leadership credentials – his brilliance impressed onlookers in his first season as South Australia captain – proved compelling to national selectors who were left wondering if he could fit into an unfamiliar opening role.

“I think I’m playing the best cricket I’ve had, batting at number 3 for South Australia, and my whole career,” McSweeney told reporters in Mackay.

“It’s not much like opening. I feel like you can be there in the first over of the game. All my preparations are with the new ball, so I feel like my game is ready.

“I hope I get the chance. If not, I’ll keep trying to get better. It will be, it will be.”

McSweeney has been tight-lipped about his position in Australia A batting, but is likely to remain in his traditional role at No.3.

“I have been very clear about where I am called in this game. It is a great honor to play for Australia and I am happy to bat anywhere,” he said. “I hope I will take my chance and hit where I hit, I don’t know exactly what will happen in the next game, so the selectors will choose that.

“I think being talked about playing for your country is a great honor… try to accept the conversation. All I can do is prepare as much as possible and prepare for the other boys.

“There are a lot of boys who are playing well and I hope we can all accept it [the opportunities] and making it more difficult for voters.”

While the national focus on the so-called ‘bat-off’, which has reached almost frenzied levels in Mackay and the MCG, Australia A will take on a talented India A line-up in a tournament that will be played in humid conditions in north-east Queensland.

India A has several members of the Test squad, including 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy, who wants to adapt to the conditions in Australia and start the tour strongly.

“It will be fun to play those guys, we only see them on TV [in the IPL]for me personally,” said McSweeney. “The wicket looks good, I don’t think it’s going to depend too much on the toss. I think that in terms of batting and football they have good players.

“We will need to do our best and hopefully we can play well and win for Australia A.”