Ricky Ponting backs McSweeney to open the batting against India

The unofficial Test series between Australia A and India A was expected to feature a ‘bat-off’ between Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris for the second opener’s spot but, three days into the clash, it’s South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney that has proven to be the standout batter in the contest. 

And now former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has backed the 25-year-old, who is captaining Australia ‘A’ in Mackay, to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja in Perth.

READ: Nathan McSweeney makes his BGT case on a brutal day for batting

McSweeney ground out a patient 39 in the first innings of the clash and is currently on 47* in the second innings, eyeing to take Australia ‘A’ to victory. The right-hander, who bats at No.3 for South Australia, is averaging 53.17 in first-class cricket this year, with this average shooting up to 83.33 since March.

“I’m leaning towards McSweeney now for that opening role at the start of the Australian summer,” Ponting told the ICC website.

Last week, Ponting had backed young Konstas to open the batting, but the former skipper explained that, upon second thought, he felt that the teenager wasn’t ‘ready’ for Test cricket yet.

“I was put on the spot about a week ago, and I sort of immediately went to the young guy, Sam Konstas. He had come off back-to-back hundreds against South Australia,” Ponting said.

“Then I thought a bit more about it and, he is so young and he has probably not even played on grounds like Optus (Perth) Stadium or at The Gabba.

“He wouldn’t have played a pink-ball (match) at Adelaide Oval either. So there’s a lot of things that stack up against the young guy, although there’s no doubt that he’s got talent.”

The 49-year-old further explained why he felt Australia won’t go back to either Harris or Bancroft.

“Another thing that I’d said then was that I don’t think they’d go back to a (Cameron) Bancroft or (Marcus) Harris because if they’re willing to do that they would’ve done it the last year," Ponting said.

Ponting explained that Konstas would be close to ready once he plays a handful of Shield games. He reckoned that, at this point in time, the teenager is a more natural replacement for Khawaja, who is 37 years old and is expected to hang up his boots post the Ashes next year.

“When Khawaja goes in about a year or so, then someone like Konstas has played another season or a half of (Sheffield) Shield cricket (domestic competition in Australia) and he might be ready to come in at the top of the order then," Ponting said of Konstas.

“He’s not the only person who has issues with the ball coming back in and the more exposure he gets to that type of bowling, the better off he is going to be.

"Which kind of backs up my point on McSweeney, maybe he needs 12 months of Shield cricket to face better bowling and play in different conditions and put a stamp on what his technique looks like for international cricket.

“He is a highly talented player, and I’m sure he’ll get his chance to play for Australia.”

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here