Nathan McSweeney says he could bowl off-spin in Sri Lanka after Test recall

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Nathan McSweeney says he could bowl off-spin in Sri Lanka after Test recall

Nathan McSweeney says Wednesday night’s call from *********** chief selector George Bailey was “a bit nicer” than the last one after being named in the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka weeks after being axed from the *********** team.

The Brisbane Heat captain was part of the 16-man squad that includes his BBL teammate Matt Kuhnemann, who could play a leading role in the two matches being played in Galle where turning pitches are expected.

Having endured a “chaotic” few months, first given his Test debut as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner then dumped after three Tests against India yielded just one double-figure score, McSweeney said he didn’t feel “out of my depth at all” at international level and was hopeful of another chance.

He remains most likely a back-up batter but said it was good to know that despite his early Test failures he remained in selectors’ thoughts.

“I’m super excited. I can’t wait for it. It’s obviously nice news after a bit of a chaotic couple of months,” he said on Thursday.

“I got a call last night from George Bailey head selector, so a bit nicer call from the last one.

“It was a pretty brief one to be honest. I think it’s just nice to know personally, from what they’ve seen over my three games, I’m still there about. I’ll take heaps of learnings from my experiences in my first three Tests and hopefully learn from that and if I get an opportunity over there, I’ll play really well.

“I felt I was more than ready and I didn’t quite get the success that I would have liked, but definitely plenty of learnings. I didn’t feel like I was out of my depth at all, just didn’t quite get the score I would have liked and they made a call and it worked out.”

McSweeney, who can also contribute off-spin, said he expected to find out in coming days what his role could be, his place at the top of the order having been taken by teen dynamo Sam Konstas, who was also named in the squad.

“I bowl plenty in the nets and in Shield cricket over the last couple years it probably hasn’t suited condition-wise for me to bowl a lot of overs, but I’m still working really hard and definitely if I get an opportunity I would love to have a bowl and in conditions that probably suit off-spin bowling,” he said.

Kuhnemann, who took nine wickets in three Tests in India in 2023, will get his baggy green out of his parents’ safe to take up his next opportunity.

He moved to Tasmania to get more Sheffield Shield opportunities and was now reaping the rewards of his bold move.

He’s the second left-arm spinner, with 21-year-old Cooper Connolly a surprise addition to the squad.

Kuhnemann said he would draw on his Indian experiences to boost his case to play in Galle.

“There’s a lot of technical things you can take, but it’s more dealing with the pressure off the field, the crowds,” he said.

“It’s part of the cricketing journey … it’s funny how cricket works out, and if you asked me a few years ago if I was playing cricket in Tassie then going away on a Test tour of Sri Lanka, I’d be really chuffed.

“It’s all part of the journey and I’m really happy.”

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