Ricky Ponting picks opener for Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash against India

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes that Nathan McSweeney is a perfect candidate to open Australian batting in the upcoming five-match Test series against India. After David Warner decided to retire, Australia found it hard to find a trusted opener to go with Steve Smith.

With seasoned players like Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris, along with young talent Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas were trying to take the opening position. Ponting has currently repressed him preferring McSweeney to fill this gap.

“I was put on the spot about a week ago, and I sort of immediately went to the young guy, Sam Konstas. He had come off back-to-back hundreds against South Australia. Then I thought a bit more about it and, he is so young and he has probably not even played on grounds like Optus (Perth) Stadium or at The Gabba,” Ponting said.

“The only name left for me more or less is Nathan McSweeney, who is Queensland-born now playing for South Australia. He got the most out of any of those guys from the ‘A’ game in Australia at the moment. And he’s more experienced. He has captained Australia A in the past, and he’s captaining them now. So, I’m leaning towards McSweeney now for that opening role at the start of the Australian summer,” he added.

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