NEW DELHI: Nathan McSweeney, the promising Australian opener, reflected on the formidable challenge of facing India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, early in his career.
“It is not going to get much tougher than that,” McSweeney admitted, highlighting Bumrah’s exceptional skill set and relentless precision. Known for his unique action and deadly yorkers, Bumrah has tested even the most experienced batters worldwide.
How can India still qualify for World Test Championship final?
For McSweeney, encountering such an elite bowler was a trial by fire but also a learning experience. “Facing Bumrah teaches you a lot about your game,” he remarked, acknowledging the value of competing against world-class opposition to elevate his own performance.
McSweeney expressed his enthusiasm about the challenge of facing Bumrah during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and wishes to see him participate in the third match at Brisbane.
In Perth, during McSweeney’s Test debut, Bumrah dismissed him lbw for scores of 10 and 0. However, McSweeney showed improvement in Adelaide, scoring 39 runs under floodlights in Australia’s first innings before Bumrah claimed his wicket in the opening session of day two.
Prior to his dismissal, McSweeney had established a crucial 67-run partnership for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne. This partnership contributed significantly to Australia’s series-equalising ten-wicket victory at the Adelaide Oval. The match also saw Bumrah experiencing discomfort due to pain in his left adductor muscle.
“If you want to win you want to do it with the best guys. Hopefully he is charging in and hopefully we can play really well. Facing him for the first time, he is a unique bowler and obviously world class. He is a little bit different to most bowlers I have faced so it is about adapting to his angle and where he delivers on the crease.”
“I got two pretty good balls from him (in Perth) so you’ve got to wear that on the chin and trust what you have been doing is good enough. He got me again in Adelaide. I am really enjoying the experience of trying to work out a game plan on the run against a world class bowler.”
“Hopefully I will get better the more I face him and hopefully throw a few more punches here at the Gabba. To get a bowler like Jasprit early on in my career, it is not going to get much tougher than that. It is awesome fun. It is challenging no doubt but it is nice to get a little confidence from Adelaide and hopefully continue through the series,” McSweeny told reporters on Wednesday.
IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma has had a terrible time with the bat in whites
The third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba, commencing December 14, marks McSweeney’s return to Queensland, his cricketing roots, prior to his transition to South Australia.
The 25-year-old right-handed batsman expressed confidence that the reliable bounce of the Gabba wicket would enable him to showcase his complete batting repertoire.
“I know I can withstand a bit of pressure and hopefully I can get a big score here in Brisbane. You never really know if you are up to it until you spend some time in the middle and get a bit of confidence,” he concluded.
