Nathan McSweeney will have the chance to concentrate on his batting when Australia A begins its first four-day fixture against India A in Puducherry on Tuesday, with Peter Handscomb taking over the captaincy.
The first of two First-Class matches in Puducherry offers a valuable opportunity for players on the fringes of Australia’s Test squad to strengthen their claims, particularly with the national side facing as many as 19 Tests over the next 11 months.
Australia A XI
Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Peter Handscomb (c), Jason Sangha, Josh Philippe (wk), Liam Scott, Fergus O’Neill, Todd Murphy, Corey Rocchiccioli, Brendan Doggett.
The two matches will also serve as an early audition for the five-Test tour of India, which begins next January. For McSweeney and the other top-order contenders, the timing is particularly significant given the uncertainty surrounding Marnus Labuschagne’s place in the batting lineup.
With Handscomb leading the side, McSweeney can focus on making a substantial contribution with the bat as Australia A looks to make the most of its two-match stint in Puducherry.
Published on Sep 21, 2026