“It was a bit of nicer call than the last one” - Dropped BGT 2024-25 batter opens up on recall

Australia opening batter Nathan McSweeney has opened up about his return to the red-ball side for the Sri Lanka tour, after being dropped midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Following Steve Smith's return to the middle order, McSweeney had won the race to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja for the home summer. However, he played only three matches before being replaced by Sam Konstas.

McSweeney's failure with the bat (72 runs) and inability to keep Jasprit Bumrah at bay led to his omission. Several Australian pundits felt the call was harsh, but the selectors had ensured that the right-handed batter was still in the scheme of things. Despite both Khawaja and Konstas retaining their places, coupled with Travis Head touted as a potential opening choice, McSweeney has been included for the two-match series in the subcontinent.

In his brief time away from the team, the batter turned up for the Brisbane Heat in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25. He scored an unbeaten 78 in his first match of the season against the Adelaide Strikers.

After his omission from the Test team during BGT 2024-25, which chief selector George Bailey relayed through a call, good news awaited McSweeney.

"Obviously, [it was] nice news after a bit of a chaotic couple of months. It was a bit of nicer call than the last one. I will take heaps of learning from my experiences in my first three Tests and hopefully learn from that if I get the opportunity to play over there I play really well," McSweeney told reporters (via ESPNcricinfo).

"It's a great challenge no doubt, but one I have planned for and will be ready for no doubt. Playing spin in Australia has to be very different to playing spin over in Sri Lanka. I've worked out a method in Australia that has worked for me in my Shield career but will definitely have to work out a new one to be a good player over there," McSweeney added.

Australia have a solid opening batter against spin in the form of Usman Khawaja, who boasts a dominant average in the subcontinent. McSweeney was part of the eight-player contingent that traveled to the MRF Academy in India in 2023 to hone their skills against spin bowling.

"I think it shows the character that we've seen" - George Bailey on how Nathan McSweeney dealt with being dropped midway through BGT 2024-25

Nathan McSweeney scored 72 runs in three Tests against India in BGT 2024-25, including two single-digit scores at The Gabba, before being dropped from the squad. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed him on four occasions in the three matches.

Bailey has heaped praise on how McSweeney conducted himself after his omission from the squad during the BGT.

"I think it shows the character that we've seen and the sort of person he is, the way he responded and spoke so well about it publicly pretty soon after it happened and jumped straight back into performing for the Heat," Bailey said (via ESPNcricinfo).

Australia's tour of Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin from January 29 onwards at the Galle International Stadium.