Published By: Sayan Guha

BGT: This Australian Batter Set to Open Against India Is Averaging 97 in 2024!

From an average of 14 in 2021 to a stunning 97 in 2024, the rookie is ready to take on India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The cricket world comes to a halt as India and Australia face off. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is more than simply a series; it’s a test of wits, talent, and endurance. While seasoned talents such as Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith will once again make headlines, attention will also be paid to Nathan McSweeney, Australia’s newest acquisition.

McSweeney’s pick, set to open with Khawaja, is both fascinating and audacious. Given the opener’s role against India’s world-class pace attack, a middle-order batter may appear to be a gamble, but his stats in 2024 show he’s earned it.

From failure to flourish

McSweeney’s career was on the verge of ending by the end of 2021, with grim first-class statistics: 9 matches, 16 innings, 126 runs, and an average of 14. However, the 2022 season was a watershed moment for him, as he amassed 757 runs in 9 matches, averaged 47.31, and recorded his first century with a strong 147.

By 2024, he had transformed into a run machine, scoring 291 runs in four innings in the Sheffield Shield at an astounding average of 97, including a match-winning 133 against Tasmania, demonstrating his capacity to dominate.

McSweeney’s domestic dominance

McSweeney’s overall first-class record now reads:

Matches: 30
Innings: 53
Runs: 2,252
Average: 47.95
Hundreds: 7
Fifties: 9

His consistency under duress makes these stats astounding, with four of his seven centuries coming in run-chases. McSweeney led the Brisbane Heat in the 2023/24 Big Bash League, capturing 392 runs at a 138.56 strike rate, with a best score of 87* off 51 balls in a must-win game, proving his ability to perform in high-stakes scenarios.

The ‘bat-off’ that changed everything

McSweeney’s path to the Australian XI was not without obstacles. In the 2023 Australia A series, he was part of a ‘bat-off’ with Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas, all of whom had far greater experience as openers.

While Harris and Bancroft had over 20,000 first-class runs, McSweeney needed more experience as an opener. However, he outperformed them all with 88*, 14, and 25 scores against the brutal India A bowling attack. His ability to adapt and grind out runs surprised the selectors, giving him a Baggy Green ahead of more experienced players.

Spin-ready and mentally tough

McSweeney’s training provides him an advantage, particularly following his 2023 MRF Pace Academy trip to India, when he honed his spin skill on Chennai’s twisting circuits. In domestic cricket, he averages 61.3 against spinners and maintains a strike rate of 73 in the middle overs of Sheffield Shield games.

The ultimate test

Opening the innings against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami on Perth’s pace-friendly pitch will be McSweeney’s most difficult test yet. But his career statistics indicate he is ready:

Against pace in First-Class Cricket: Average 49.7, 4 hundreds, 39 boundaries.
Against spin in First-Class Cricket: Average 45.1, 3 hundreds, 28 boundaries.

What separates McSweeney is how he acts. He has batted for more than 300 minutes in an innings five times in his career, displaying his ability to grind out challenging runs.

Will McSweeney deliver?

McSweeney’s climb has been tremendous, but the Border-Gavaskar Trophy offers a fresh challenge. The pressure of starting the innings against Indian bowlers and the expectations of Australian supporters will put him to the ultimate test. However, McSweeney has proven that he thrives under difficulties.

Australia’s risk on him may pay off, and the world will be watching when he takes the pitch in Perth, ready to add to his amazing narrative.