Former Australia batter Michael Hussey feels that the Aussie team management should have added a specialist opener instead of Nathan McSweeney for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well. However, the South Australia batter won the race on the back of his impressive start in the Sheffield Shield and recent knocks against India A as well. He also shared that it would be a tough task for a makeshift opener to face the new ball against a strong Indian seam bowling attack as well.

“I think it’s a tough ask to ask him to play his first Test match as an opening batsman against India in a huge series when he hasn’t opened before in first class cricket apart from last week in the India A clash,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket’s broadcast of the third ODI between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium.

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“It’s not easy at all. I know people will say Simon Katich and Shane Watson have done it in the past. They moved from the middle-order up to the top order, but they played 20-30 Test matches before they made the move. It’s a tough ask and, personally, I would (prefer a specialist opener), but I think the Australian selectors’ philosophy is picking the best six batters in the country, and then we’ll figure the order out after that,” Hussey further added.

However, Chief Selector George Bailey backed McSweeney’s inclusion and added that the batter is not a makeshift opener as he has experience of facing the new ball on the domestic circuit as well.

“I don’t think it’s a huge adjustment to go from three to opening. I think in the 15 or so games that he’s been batting at three for South Australia, I think he’s been in before the 10th over about 20 times. He’s had plenty of experience. I think his game and the way he plays, I don’t think the adjustment will be too much,” chief selector George Bailey said after McSweeney’s inclusion in the squad.