South Australia’s captain, Nathan McSweeney, is keeping all avenues open as he seeks to regain his place in the Australian Test team. While his primary focus is leading South Australia to victory in the Sheffield Shield final, he is also interested in playing county cricket should the opportunity arise.
McSweeney, aged 25, debuted as a Test opener for Australia at the beginning of the Border-Gavaskar series. However, he was dropped after three matches in favor of Sam Konstas due to struggles against Jasprit Bumrah, managing only 72 runs across six innings.
He was part of the squad for the Sri Lanka tour as a reserve batsman, but did not play, with Konstas also being omitted and sent back to play in the Sheffield Shield. Travis Head was then promoted to opener, and Josh Inglis joined the middle order.
With Head expected to return to the No. 5 position for the World Test Championship final, an opening spot is available. However, Cameron Green’s expected return as a batter creates a selection dilemma for Australia, needing to accommodate both Green and find a partner for Usman Khawaja at the top.
McSweeney recently scored a hard-fought 60 off 199 balls for South Australia against Victoria, facing a bowling attack that included Scott Boland. When questioned after play about whether the opening position for the WTC final was a potential pathway back into the Test team, McSweeney remained focused on performance.
“I’m not sure,” he stated. “All I can control is scoring runs and consistently performing, which is what earned me the initial opportunity. Wherever the spot may be, I’m willing to bat anywhere if the chance comes. I believe my game is adaptable. My current focus is on accumulating runs, hopefully contributing to South Australia reaching the Shield final.”
He has another innings in the current game before South Australia hosts Queensland in the final round of the season. These matches, along with a potential final, represent his only playing opportunities before the WTC final, unless an opportunity in England materializes.
“I would be keen to play county cricket, but for now, I’m staying in Adelaide,” McSweeney added. “I haven’t planned much beyond the next few weeks, as the focus is on South Australia. We have a crucial period ahead, aiming to finish this game strongly and prepare for a potential Shield final. After that, I would like to explore playing overseas to further develop my game.”
McSweeney’s innings of 60 marked a return to form after recent low scores. It was his first significant first-class innings since his Test omission in December. He also had inconsistent scores in the Dean Jones Trophy, despite South Australia’s victory, where he contributed with the ball in the final.
“It was good to spend time in the middle,” McSweeney reflected. “It’s been an interrupted season for me, without much consistent play. While I would have liked a higher score, spending time at the crease and facing deliveries is valuable preparation. I hope to capitalize on this in the second innings and score more freely.”
Selectors were impressed with McSweeney’s technique and temperament during his Test matches but had concerns about his scoring rate, leading to his omission. His innings at the Junction Oval highlighted both his strengths and weaknesses.
He demonstrated strong defensive skills and sound decision-making against Boland’s quality bowling, but struggled to rotate the strike, especially early in his innings. He became more assertive as his innings progressed before being dismissed by Fergus O’Neill.
His brief experience in Test cricket has shown McSweeney the need to maintain his core strengths while adding more scoring options to his game.
“It’s a combination of both,” McSweeney explained. “I believe in my Shield cricket approach, but I’m also constantly learning and improving. My Test experiences have provided valuable lessons to incorporate into my game to become a better player.”
“It’s important to remember what has made me successful and what defines me as a player. The past couple of months have been enjoyable and challenging, and I believe I’ve grown from the experience.”
McSweeney confirmed that Alex Carey would rejoin South Australia for the Shield final if they qualify, but Travis Head would be unavailable due to IPL commitments.
