Nathan McSweeney eager to earn his spot in Australian Test team ahead of WTC final

Nathan McSweeney made his Test debut for Australia in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.

Australian batter Nathan McSweeney is ready to push harder in order to earn a spot in the Test team. The 25-year-old made his Test debut for Australia in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy against India. McSweeney was part of the playing XI for the first three matches, but had a rather dismal outing after scoring only 72 in the six innings that he played. It can be stated that he got a little unlucky as he was dismissed maximum times by India’s most lethal and in-form bowler - Jasprit Bumrah. He was then replaced by youngster Sam Konstas for the remaining two games of the series.

Recently, the South Australian cricket team became the One-day Cup Champions under the captaincy of Nathan Mcsweeney. His team defeated Victoria in the final on March 1, in Adelaide, winning the match by 64 runs. Although McSweeney did not have a great outing with the bat, his bowling cameo of 2/14 in four overs, helped put his team across the line.

Nathan McSweeney also spoke about how he wanted to return to the Australian Test team, and remarked, "All I can do is make runs and get back to being a consistent run-scorer which is what got me the opportunity in the first place. So wherever my spot is, if the opportunity comes I'm happy to bat wherever."

McSweeney will look to carry One-Day Cup win’s momentum into the Sheffield Shield

McSweeney, who is currently captaining South Australia in the Sheffield Shield; a domestic first-class cricket tournament held in Australia, concluded second day’s play against Victoria today. He scored 60 off 199 deliveries, helping his team reach the first innings total of 285 scored by Victoria. He did travel with the Australian team back in February for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, but could not get a spot in the playing XI in both of the Test matches.

With the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) set to be held at the Lord's in June, McSweeney will be eager to earn his spot back in the Australian side. Australia will be facing off South Africa in the final after they came out victorious in their last two Test series against India and Sri Lanka.