Australia's Usman Khawaja has advised his new opening partner, Nathan McSweeney, not to emulate David Warner's rapid scoring style in the upcoming Test series against India. McSweeney is set to make his Test debut in the first match in Perth next week, having been given the opportunity to establish himself in the role following Warner's retirement earlier this year.
Steve Smith initially took on the opening position but struggled and has since returned to his preferred number four spot. Warner's first-class strike rate of over 70 is notably higher than McSweeney's 41.92, but Khawaja believes there are alternative methods for a Test opener to construct an innings.
"I don't understand why there's a myth that you need to score quickly to succeed," Khawaja commented. "You have five days to play... I don't see the need for fast scoring. Being an opener is about both scoring runs and absorbing pressure."
Warner's aggressive batting style often put Australia in a commanding position early in Test matches. "Davey was unique; he could score runs while absorbing pressure, but he didn't always score fast," Khawaja noted. "He was consistent, setting a strong platform, which Nathan does very well."
South Australia's number three, McSweeney, will need to adjust to his new role in the five-Test series against India, but Khawaja anticipates a seamless transition. "There are no guarantees in cricket... but he doesn't need to change his approach," Khawaja said. "He just needs to repeat his process. He's proven he can handle pressure at the Shield level." Khawaja also believes McSweeney's demeanor and playing style suggest he will cope with the scrutiny and pressure of Test cricket over time.
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