Nathan McSweeney has the prospect to claim himself because the favorite for the Take a look at emptiness after closing in on a half-century in Australia A’s second innings in opposition to India A.
On day three in Mackay, Australia A captain McSweeney (47 not out from 98 balls) was by far probably the most spectacular of the 4 main candidates to open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja this summer time.
Choice rivals Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft have been all out cheaply for a second time in as many digs, prolonging Australia’s choice conundrum solely weeks from the primary Take a look at in Perth.
Heading into the second tour match, the one factor that can be clearer is that McSweeney has performed higher than his rivals in a very powerful choice take a look at but.
The South Australia captain top-scored for the hosts with a affected person 39 runs in a troublesome first innings, however took a distinct method following early wickets on Saturday.
He slapped Prasidh Krishna for 4 in his first over on the crease, solely 5 balls after the Indian paceman dismissed Bancroft with a brutal bouncer.
After Harris was despatched packing, McSweeney put some life into his partnership with Beau Webster with two fours in three balls from Mukesh Kumar — India A’s greatest bowler within the first innings.
McSweeney rode his luck after Navdeep Saini got here across the wicket and appeared to strike him plumb on the pad on 36 runs.
Play had been on account of proceed till 5:30pm AEST however was halted 5 minutes early via poor mild, denying McSweeney the prospect to notch his half-century earlier than stumps.
McSweeney’s kind for SA is one other string to his bow this summer time; the 25-year-old is averaging extra Protect runs (97) than any of his three largest rivals for the Take a look at spot.
However McSweeney’s inexperience as an opener may hinder him. First drop or No.4 is his most popular place, whereas Konstas, Bancroft and Harris are all out-and-out openers.
McSweeney could have ample time and a big sufficient goal to impress on day 4.
Australia A (3-139) require 86 runs for victory, with all-rounder Webster (19no) to start out alongside McSweeney on the crease on Sunday.
The boldest selection with solely six first-class caps, Konstas fell right into a entice for younger gamers on Saturday.
The 19-year-old shouldered arms and watching as Kumar’s inswinger pressured his off-stump midway to the wicketkeeper.
Konstas (16 from 33 balls) had made a optimistic begin however has now managed a mixed complete of solely 16 runs throughout his first two digs following a third-ball duck final time.
Additionally failing to attain within the first innings, Bancroft (16 from 43 balls) struggled for fluency on the crease on Saturday and was given a life on 4 when he edged Saini’s no-ball to first slip.
India A didn’t want to attend for much longer to ship him again to the pavilion, Krishna’s bouncer hitting the shoulder of his bat and flying to gully.
As within the first innings, Harris got here up with probably the most runs of any of the out-and-out openers however by no means appeared comfy on the crease.
Simply when he and McSweeney appeared able to forge a partnership within the third session, Harris (36 from 82 balls) clipped Manav Suthar to the wicketkeeper.
Earlier, spinner Todd Murphy engineered a comeback by dismissing India A’s two top-scorers within the house of 13 deliveries in the course of the first hour of play.
Sai Sudharsan (103) chopped on shortly after reaching his century, earlier than Murphy trapped Devdutt Padikkal (88) lbw. Neither man options in India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India A have been all out for 312, Victorian paceman Fergus O’Neill ending with figures of 4-55 and Jordan Buckingham unable to bowl on day three on account of a facet pressure.
AAP
