“We think he’s got the game”: Why chief selector Bailey is backing McSweeney to succeed

Chief Australia selector George Bailey has explained the decision to pick Nathan McSweeney as the nation’s newest Test opener.

The South Australia captain – who bats No. 3 for his state – won the job ahead of Sheffield Shield openers Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas.

While McSweeney hasn’t opened at the First Class level, Bailey thinks that the 25-year-old has the game to succeed at the top of the order at the Test level with his technique and temperament standouts.

Bailey also revealed that the McSweeney earned points at the selection table due to him complementing the rest of the XI, perhaps due to his leadership, status as a right-hander and relatively young age.

“We like his technique, his temperament and we think he's got the game to succeed at Test level,” Bailey told SEN Whateley.

“We’re conscious that it's unlikely that it (his progression) will be linear, I don't think there's many players that go through their Test career where it is, but we think he can succeed.

“I also think he really he complements the team, and that's an important factor too, the balance of what you want your XI to look like.”

As McSweeney has never faced the brand new ball at the state level, Bailey was asked by SEN’s Gerard Whateley whether selectors were guessing that he can do the job.

After assessing all of their options, Bailey says that the McSweeney selection was more than a guess as they look to pick a team that understands each other and is balanced across the board.

“I'd like to think it's a little more than a guess,” Bailey said.

“But I guess we could all we could all run our fingers down the list of leading run-scorers or leading wicket-takers and just pick off the top, but that’s not necessarily how cricket teams work.

“It's how they fit together, and I think that the One Day team that played recently was a good example of that.

“I don’t think there was players in there that don't have the capacity to perform at One Day level, but one thing was quite apparent was that they just didn't quite gel - they didn't quite know how each of their teammates work.

“But we certainly think Nathan will complement the Test team with the players that he has around him.”

McSweeney will make his Test debut when the first Test against India kicks off on November 22 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.