“As flagged prior to the series the batting order was subject to adjustment throughout the two-match series,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “We will use the opportunity this week to gather our final information before the announcement of the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series following the Australia A match.”
Australia will name a 13-player squad for the first Test with two batting spots up for grabs as a reserve will also be carried.
McSweeney was the standout batting performer for in the first match against India A in Mackay, guiding the chase home with an unbeaten 88 having made 39 in the first innings.
“I’m really confident in my game. I’m progressing and I’m batting some of the best innings I’ve played,” McSweeney told reporters in Mackay after the match. “Hopefully I can continue to learn and get better. If the opportunity comes, I feel like I’m ready.
“If it doesn’t, I’ll keep working hard and hope that one day I get that call-up. “All I can worry about is making sure my game is in good order. I’ve got to continue to try and punch out runs.”
Between the three specialist openers in the XI, Harris’ 36 in the second innings was the highest score they managed.
McSweeney has never opened in his first-class career but is now a realistic candidate to take the position for the first Test against India in Perth. Another option would be for him to bat at his usual No. 3 spot with Marnus Labuschagne moving up, something captain Pat Cummins did not rule out.
“You could do,” Cummins said before the first ODI against Pakistan. “Maybe once we we kind of start discussing who’s in the side, then you start looking at the batting order.
“Ronnie [coach Andrew McDonald] and I have said it quite a bit – where you bat isn’t that important. You try and work out how the batting order as a whole is going to function best. I don’t think anyone should be super protective around a certain spot on that.”
Australia A XI 1 Marcus Harris, 2 Nathan McSweeney (capt), 3 Cameron Bancroft, 4 Sam Konstas, 5 Ollie Davies, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Jimmy Peirson (wk), 8 Michael Neser, 9 Nathan McAndrew, 10 Scott Boland, 11 Corey Rocchiccioli
