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

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.

"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.

Usman Khawaja warned against not picking proper opener

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.

RELATED:

• Ian Healy rips Aussie batters as Marnus Labuschagne cops backlash

• Mitchell Starc reveals brutal new detail after losing $4.4m contract

• Ian Healy calls out India's glaring move amid ball-tampering furore

Marnus Labuschagne can follow Justin Langer blueprint

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