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"I think playing Test…”: Nathan McSweeney stakes fresh claim on Test future after unbeaten 226

Kaushik Kashyap

Nathan McSweeney. [Source - AFP]Nathan McSweeney. [Source - AFP]

Nathan McSweeney, who made his Test debut last summer against India before being dropped, including for the ongoing Ashes, has rediscovered his best touch this season. The right-hander has produced a superb run of form, now scoring a career-best double century against the England Lions at Allan Border Field, Brisbane.

McSweeney has let his bat do the talking from the opening week of Australia’s domestic season, carrying his momentum from the A series against India in Lucknow into this unofficial Test. With consistency across conditions, his bounce back has become impossible to ignore for national selectors.

McSweeney knocks Australia’s Test selection door with unbeaten 226

McSweeney’s rise has been steady and very noticeable. He also scored runs in the recent pink-ball fixture, making a composed fifty for the Prime Minister’s XI, and has now delivered his most commanding performance yet, an unbeaten 226 off 394 balls. The knock marks his highest first-class score and lifts his first-class average to a remarkable 60.9 this summer.

As Australia continues its prolonged search for stable Test openers, McSweeney remains firmly in the discussion. He entered the national radar early, earning his Test debut against India, a stint that did not go as planned. But the 26-year-old has since absorbed the lessons, rebuilt his game, and responded with runs across domestic cricket and A-series fixtures.

"I think playing Test cricket obviously exposes a few opportunities to learn, and I'd definitely like to think I have learned from those experiences, and I can continue to try and grow my game," McSweeney said after Day 2 of Australia A vs England Lions game as quoted by cricket.com.au.

With no permanent solution locked in at the top of the order, his scorching form only makes the competition spicy. Each innings strengthens his case and makes it increasingly difficult for selectors to overlook him. McSweeney’s ability to score big continues this way in the rest of the season his Test recall may be just around the corner.