Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy Advocate for McSweeney's Inclusion in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Squad

Named after two cricketing legends - Allan Border from Australia and Sunil Gavaskar from India, Border–Gavaskar Trophy is a rewned Test cricket series contested between Australia and India. Showcasing finest cricketing ability from both countries, series has generated tough rivalry, memorable events, and heated fights.

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Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Ponting, Healy back McSweeney for Test selection

Former players Ricky Ponting and Ian Healy have backed Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney to take over vacant opening slot in national team for marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, starting in Perth on vember 22.

With David Warner calling it quits earlier this year and Steve Smith set to return to his preferred number 4 spot, Australia are in need for an opening partner for Usman Khawaja.

likes of McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris are vying for vacant spot.

“I was put on spot about a week ago, and I sort of immediately went to young guy, Sam Konstas. He had come off back-to-back hundreds against South Australia,” Ponting said on ‘ICC Review Show’.

“n I thought a bit more about it and, he is so young and he has probably t even played on grounds like Optus (Perth) Stadium or at Gabba.

“He wouldn’t have played a pink-ball (match) at Adelaide Oval eir. So re’s a lot of things that stack up against young guy, although re’s doubt that he’s got talent.”

McSweeney has scored 291 runs in his previous four innings, which has included a century in Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup.

“ only name left for me more or less is Nathan McSweeney, who is Queensland-born w playing for South Australia. He got most out of any of those guys from ‘A’ game in Australia at moment.”

“And he’s more experienced. He has captained Australia A in past, and he’s captaining m w. So, I’m leaning towards McSweeney w for that opening role at start of Australian summer.”

Currently leading Australia A, McSweeney has made a strong impression. Batting at . 4, 25-year-old played a steady kck in first inning and was leading charge in second essay in first ufficial Test against India A.

“I was glad people could see how Nathan McSweeney can bat yesterday, he put his shots away for good of situation,” Healy told SEN Radio.

“I knew about him because he’s come from my club and Australian selectors kw about it because he’s played like that for South Australia and very well recently.

“He showed that at 25 years of , he’s most ready of four. tried and tested Bancroft and Harris are a bit older and Konstas is a bit younger. He’s most suited from that performance overall,” Healy added.

Ponting believed that if Australia intended to return to Bancroft and Harris — both of whom have previous Test experience — y would have done so after Warner’s retirement.

Instead, Australian think tank experimented by sending Smith to open, a strategy that did t yield significant results.

“Ar thing that I’d said n was that I don’t think y’d go back to a Bancroft or Harris because if y’re willing to do that y would’ve done it last year,” Ponting added. 

(PTI)