How Australia’s debutant Nathan McSweeney is planning for ‘unique’ Jasprit Bumrah challenge

Australia’s uncapped opener Nathan McSweeney is already deep into his preparation for the formidable challenge in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: facing India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. The series opener, set in Perth, marks McSweeney’s anticipated debut, and the young right-hander is meticulously planning how to handle the pace attack led by Bumrah, whose unconventional action and pinpoint accuracy have earned him a stellar Test bowling average of 20.57, placing him amongst cricket’s all-time greats.

McSweeney, 25, recently solidified his place in Australia’s 13-player squad after an impressive domestic season and strong performances for Australia A, and will likely join Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. His debut series comes with high expectations, especially given Bumrah’s outstanding record, which rivals those of icons like Glenn McGrath and Dale Steyn.

To prepare, McSweeney turned to video analysis, studying Bumrah’s unique release and rhythm. While he admits there’s no perfect way to replicate Bumrah’s unusual style in practice, he remains committed to mentally readying himself for the task ahead. “I’ll definitely dive a lot deeper into it when I get to Perth, but I can’t help myself,” he said on SEN radio. “I’m just trying to visualize how I’m going to go about it.”

Acknowledging the difficulty of replicating Bumrah’s distinctive action, McSweeney said, “He’s one of the best bowlers in the world, so it’s going to be hard to mimic that, that’s for sure. But I’m just looking forward to all of that and I can’t wait.”

With a recent standout showing in the Sheffield Shield, where he ranks fifth among leading scorers, McSweeney earned his Test call-up by making a significant impact in Australia A’s series against India A. His domestic success follows years of persistence and development, tracing back to his early potential displayed at the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Now, the upcoming series offers him the chance to cement his place in Australia’s top order.

Reflecting on his current form, McSweeney feels he’s at his best. “In the last month or so I really feel like I’m batting the best I ever have,” he shared. “I think I’m the best I’ve ever been prepared to take this opportunity.”

Aware of the challenges of Test cricket and the unique demands of opening in such high-stakes conditions, McSweeney is aiming to keep his game plan straightforward: “Decision-making is the most important thing for my game. Being an opening batter, it’s making sure I’m leaving the ball well and making the bowlers bowl to me.”

McSweeney’s preparation also included a tempered expectation of matching the high-scoring rates of his predecessor, David Warner. Instead, he is focusing on spending time at the crease, taking the match session by session. If he can implement his strategy effectively, he hopes to translate it into a solid start for Australia against one of the most challenging bowling attacks in world cricket.