The Australian Test team is said to be harder to get into than to get out of it, but 10 months after David Warnerâs long goodbye a spot at the top of the order is still there for the taking. The lack of obvious alternatives helped Warner hang on until his self-proclaimed Sydney farewell, but after an experiment with Steve Smith partnering Usman Khawaja as opener, a new frontrunner for the role is finally emerging.
Nathan McSweeney showcased his credentials with a composed 39 then added a classy, unbeaten 88 to steer Australia A to victory over India A in Mackay. The pair of contrasting knocks, the first full of fight while the next was more free-flowing without adding unnecessary risk, has edged McSweeney ahead of Test discards Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, as well as young gun Sam Konstas in the race to replace Warner.
But while the Australia A captainâs stocks have risen as much as the other Test hopefulsâ have dived after the so-called âbat offâ against India A, selectors must also look at the body of work behind each batter. With the four leading candidates to have another chance to stake their claim for the vacant spot when the A squads meet again at the MCG from 7 November, we look at what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Nathan McSweeney
Test record: Yet to debut
First-class record: 32 matches, 2,086 runs, six centuries, average 37.25
Case for: The South Australia skipper has made a strong start to the summer with a ton and two half-centuries from four innings at state level, after scoring the fourth-most runs in the Sheffield Shield last season. The 25-year-old is highly regarded for his leadership as much as his run-scoring feats and led the way in rebuilding Australia Aâs first innings with a compact defence after their top-order faltered in Mackay. McSweeney backed it up in the second innings and showed that he can take on spin and punish bad balls to guide his side to a seven-wicket triumph.
Case against: He might have leapt into the box seat as the standout performer against India A but both of his impressive innings came from batting at No 4, while he tends to line up at first-drop for South Australia. He has never previously opened in a first-class match, so a move to the top of the order in the second Australia A match would be a clear indication that McSweeney is closing in on a Test debut.
Marcus Harris
Test record: 14 matches, 607 runs, no centuries, average 25.29
First-class record: 167 matches, 1,1162 runs, 29 centuries, average 39.72
Case for: Harris last played a Test almost three years ago â in a match where Khawaja emerged from the wilderness to score twin centuries against England at the SCG and reclaim the opening spot â but can turn to experience facing India in 2018-19 and 2021. The left-hander was Australiaâs most consistent batter against India in his debut series and has shown that he can handle Jasprit Bumrahâs weapons better than most.
Case against: The 32-year-old has not grasped his opportunities when playing for Australia and has carried a tendency to make good starts without kicking on often enough up to the elite level. Harris has done little to counter those concerns with a 17 and 36 against India A but it would not surprise to see him walk out to bat alongside McSweeney in a head-to-head audition in the second A match on Thursday.
Sam Konstas
Test record: Yet to debut
First-class record: six matches, 457 runs, two centuries, average 45.70
after newsletter promotion
Case for: The 19-year-old burst onto the scene when becoming the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score twin centuries in a Sheffield Shield match last month. The right-hander dazzled with a commanding 152 against South Australia but was made to work harder in the second innings when dropped on zero and again on 22, before knuckling down to reach a second ton.
Konstas has a small sample size as evidence of his prodigious talents but has plundered runs at every level he has played at, and the ageing Australian Test team could do with an injection of fresh blood.
Case against: Age is on Konstasâ side, but might also count against him this time. Ponting had to wait more than two years to make his Test debut after his breakout pair of centuries at the age of 18, and Konstas could be earmarked for a similar wait especially with Khawaja set to turn 38 before the year is out and on the home stretch in his career.
Konstas might show maturity beyond his years when at the crease but like all young batters is still working out his game, and a tendency to reach for the ball away from his body would be targeted by the experienced India bowling attack. The right-hander was out for a third-ball duck in that fashion against India A then misjudged a moving ball in the second innings to be clean bowled for 16 while shouldering arms.
Cameron Bancroft
Test record: 10 matches, 446 runs, no centuries, average 26.23
First-class record: 163 matches, 1,0557 runs, 29 centuries, average 39.10
Case for: The 31-year-oldâs hopes of a Test recall are boosted by the weight of runs that he has scored at first class level in Australia and the UK across the past two years. While technical issues that see Bancroft edge away from his body still exist, he has adapted his game to avoid being exposed too regularly.
Bancroft is the strongest fielder among the candidates and would be more than capable of stepping into Cameron Greenâs role in the gully while the all-rounder is sidelined this summer.
Case against: Bancroft has fallen out of form at the wrong time as he suffers a nightmare start to the summer campaign. The right-hander might have been on the receiving end of a contentious call when caught behind for a scratchy, 14-ball duck against India A, but his 16 in the second innings takes his tally to a mere 26 runs from six red-ball knocks this season.
