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Usman Khawaja's telling warning with Nathan McSweeney on cusp of 47-year Test first

The Aussie veteran previously suggested Australia should select a specialist opener.

In-form Nathan McSweeney seemingly has one foot in the Test side after being confirmed as an opener for the final Australia A game. It comes as the South Australia captain was the only contender for the vacant batting spot in Australia's top six to fire in last week's win against India A in Mackay.

McSweeney top-scored twice in the game, including hitting an unbeaten 88 in the second innings to lift Australia to victory. On the back of that performance, he has firmed as the leading option to secure the Test spot vacated by the injured Cameron Green. McSweeney came in to bat at No.4 in that match but has been promoted to open with Marcus Harris in the four-day match that gets underway on Thursday at the MCG.

Pictured left Usman Khawaja and right Nathan McSweeney
Usman Khawaja warned Australian selectors against not selecting a specialist opener as Nathan McSweeney firms as favourite to get the call-up. Image: Getty

"As flagged prior to the series, the batting order was subject to adjustment throughout the two-match series," chairman of selectors George Bailey revealed on Wednesday. "We will use the opportunity this week to gather our final information before the announcement of the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series following the Australia A match."

McSweeney has now made scores of 55, 127no, 37, 72, 36 and 88no to start the summer, along with 137 against Queensland in a 50-over game last week, as he pushes his case for a Test debut. The 25-year-old looked completely at ease as Australia A chased down the fourth-innings target of 225 to secure the win.

But selectors will wait until at least after the first innings of Australia A's match against India A before naming their Test squad, giving Cameron Bancroft, Harris and Sam Konstas all one last chance to impress. However, if McSweeney is selected as expected, it means either he or Marnus Labushagne will open the batting for Australia in the series against India this year.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 03: David Warner of Australia (L) and Usman Khawaja of Australia leave the field after day one of the Men's Third Test Match in the series between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 03, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Australia are yet to find David Warner's long-term replacement. Image: Getty

This is despite Khawaja previously warning against using a non-specialist opener at the top of the order. Speaking last summer about replacing Warner with Labushagne or Steve Smith, the 37-year-old said a specialist should be given the role.

"Have you asked Marnus this? (about opening the batting) I think he would give you a really clear, 'hell no'," Khawaja said when asked if Labushagne could replace Warner at the top of the order in December. "Marnus has got opening-itis. I am pretty sure Davey Warner hurt his arm and sent Alex Carey out to open. I think that is a long shot (him opening).

"Opening is not easy. It's tough work. I can tell you that because I've batted at (No.) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 for Australia. I'm telling you by far opening is the hardest and it's very hard to bring someone who hasn't opened... I wouldn't want to take the risk [given he's] averaging 55 [56.81] at three and Steve Smith averages 60 (58.61) in general. So you wouldn't want to mess around with it too much. Opening can be a very, very tough thing to do mentally more than physically so I'm always a bit shy of not letting people who haven't opened much in the past open the batting."

His comments rang true as after Smith volunteered to take Warner's place at the top of the order he had little success. Smith made just 171 runs in eight innings against the West Indies and New Zealand, with only one half-century to his name. He averaged 28.25 as an opener - well below his career average of 56.97. And in the New Zealand series alone he averaged just 12.75 across four innings.

But Khawaja's argument about picking a specialist opener runs counter to his transition from being a No.3 at Test level to becoming an opener. The 37-year-old didn't open the batting in his first 31 Tests over five years before making a century in his first Test innings as an opener. Unlike McSweeney, however, Khawaja had opened 15 times in first-class cricket before that century although he had not reached 50 in any innings. Since then he has gone on to become one of the most successful openers in Test match history.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Steve Smith of Australia looks dejected after his team loses the match during day four of the Second Test match in the series between Australia and West Indies at The Gabba on January 28, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Steve Smith opening experiment failed last summer. Image: Getty
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Nathan McSweeney of South Australia celebrates 100 runs during the ODC match between Queensland and South Australia at Allan Border Field, on October 25, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Nathan McSweeney has been in great form to start the new Shield season. Image: Getty

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McSweeney opening the batting is a serious possibility and the Australia A game will shed light on whether or not it is a good idea. The match will mark the first time in his senior career he has opened, with his only previous experience against the new ball being when his side has lost early wickets.

And if he is given the Test opener spot it will be the first time since Victorian Richie Robinson in the first Test of the 1977 Ashes that an Australian been picked as an opener without having done so for their state. If Australian selectors opt to go with McSweeney as Khawaja's opening partner it will be a 47-year-first. And therefore Australian selectors may instead promote Labuschagne to the top of the order.

Labuschagne’s record – 11 centuries and an average of 49.56 from 50 Tests – shows he can build a long innings and has regularly come in against the new ball in his Test career when Aussie openers had fallen early. And he can follow in former Australian opener Justin Langer's footsteps and make a successful jump up the order.

Langer averaged 48.22 as an opener, after previously averaging 39.85 batting at No.3 or below. And Labuschagne can make a similar jump, with his great batting technique and patience building an innings.

with AAP