Reuters/Melbourne
Australia’s Usman Khawaja said his new opening partner Nathan McSweeney should not feel the need to imitate the quick-scoring approach of David Warner in the Test series against India.
McSweeney will make his Test debut in the series opener in Perth next week, the 25-year-old given the chance to make the role his own following Warner’s retirement earlier this year.
Steve Smith had first go at replacing Warner but failed to fire in his stint at the top of the order and is returning to his preferred slot at number four.
Warner’s 70-plus strike rate in first class cricket is significantly higher than McSweeney’s 41.92 but Khawaja said there were other ways a Test opener can build an innings. “I don’t know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well,” Khawaja said. “You’ve got five days to do it ... I don’t know why you need to score fast.
“Opening’s as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb.”
Warner dominated all three formats of the game with his take-no-prisoners batting, which often put Australia in charge early in a Test match.
“Davey was special, he could score runs while absorbing but he didn’t do it (score fast) every time,” Khawaja said. “He was consistent, out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well.”
South Australia number three McSweeney will have to adapt to a new role in the five-Test series against India but Khawaja expected it to be a smooth transition.
“There’s no guarantees in cricket ... but he doesn’t have to do anything different,” he said. “Just repeat the process. He’s been able to handle the pressure at Shield level.
“That doesn’t always happen straight away. You always go through ups and downs in cricket, but when you look at Nathan, you look at his demeanour, you look at the way he plays, you feel that over a longer period of time that, yes, this guy will be able to handle the scrutiny of Test cricket and the pressure of Test cricket.
“Even though there are no guarantees, I’m sure the selectors have made a calculated decision with him.”
This summer’s Gabba Test next month will be tied to the Usman Khawaja Foundation, which helps disadvantaged youth through education and cricket.
Squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
