Nathan McSweeney’s woes against India spearhead Jaspit Bumrah have continued in the third Test at the Gabba.
Australia’s new opener was dismissed by Bumrah for a fourth consecutive time in the series when he edged to Virat Kohli in the slips for just nine early on day two.
The 26-year-old, in his first Test series, has now made just 12 runs at an average of three against Bumrah while facing 51 deliveries.
He is not alone in struggling against Bumrah as McSweeney’s wicket was the 14th for the series for the India speedster.
McSweeney was beaten on the inside of the bat twice in Perth, for 10 and 0, with deliveries that came in to him.
In Adelaide in the first innings, where he made 39, he edged a delivery that held its line outside off stump and at the Gabba he was squared up and played down the wrong line to leave Australia at 2-38.
Australian selectors elected to elevate McSweeney from his usual No.3 position in Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia as they search for a long-term replacement for the retired David Warner.,
There is a sense McSweeney has the temperament and technique to be a success but first he must come through one of the toughest initiations a top order batter can have against the world’s No.1 ranked bowler.
Before the third Test began McSweeney acknowledged as much.
“To get a bowler like Jasprit early on in my career, it is not going to get much tougher than that,” he said.
“I am really enjoying the experience of trying to work out a game plan on the run against a world class bowler. Hopefully I will get better the more I face him and hopefully throw a few more punches here at the Gabba.”
McSweeney will get another chance to throw a few of those punches in the second innings.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/mcsweeney-fast-becoming-a-bumrah-bunny-c-17090099
