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Australia came up with two late selection surprises as the selectors, on Sunday, revealed the 13-member squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener against India with the inclusion of two uncapped players in Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis.
The South Australian earned the edge over fellow specialist openers in Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas following his consistent run in the Sheffield Shield over the past few years, with chief selector George Bailey confirming that he will partner Usman Khawaja in the opening role at Perth Stadium later this month.
McSweeney, who is all set to become Australia’s 467th men’s Test cricketer, never opened in first-class cricket until the series against India A earlier this month. After scoring 39 and 88 not out at batting at No. 4 in the first match in Mackay, the selectors promoted him up the order for the MCG game, and he did not disappoint. Despite scores of 14 and 47, he looked much in control against the new ball and impressed the selectors enough to bag the role for the Perth game despite Harris’ knock of 74.
Inglis, who will lead Australia in the third ODI against Pakistan on Sunday in Perth, also stands on the verge of making a debut in Perth and forced his way into the selection reckoning after stunning centuries in each of the Sheffield Shield matches he played this season. It was although a surprising selection from Bailey and his team given that Australia have a tradition of picking more back-up bowlers than adding a reserve batter to the squad for a home Test.
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