'Nice news after a bit of a chaotic couple of months'- Nathan McSweeney pleased after selection for Sri Lanka tour

The Australian team is set to play their last Test series of the current WTC cycle from January 29 in Sri Lanka. The squad was announced earlier this week with legendary batter Steve Smith set to lead the team in the two-match series in Galle.

There was one notable inclusion in the form of Nathan McSweeney who returned to the squad. McSweeney made his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in which he featured in the first three Test matches before being dropped and replaced by Sam Konstas for the final two Test matches.

After getting dropped from the squad McSweeney has played a couple of crucial knocks in the BBL for Brisbane Heat and seemed motivated to improve his performances after the poor run in BGT. He hoped to learn from his experiences in the three games he played for Australia.

“Obviously [it was] nice news after a bit of a chaotic couple of months, It was a bit of nicer call than the last one. I will take heaps of learning from my experiences in my first three Tests and hopefully learn from that if I get the opportunity to play over there I play really well," said McSweeney as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Though it is still uncertain if McSweeney will get an opportunity to play in the series Australia’s chair of selectors and former skipper George Bailey has praised the character he has shown and how he handled the news of getting selected for the series against Sri Lanka.

Also Read: Australia announce Test squad for Sri Lanka tour, Steve Smith to lead

“I think it shows the character that we've seen and the sort of person he is, the way he responded and spoke so well about it publicly pretty soon after it happened and jumped straight back into performing for the Heat," Bailey said.

McSweeney prepared for rank turners in Sri Lanka

Though McSweeney has still not got enough experience playing in the sub-continent, he had earlier taken some time to get used to the conditions while practising at the MRF academy in India and seems to have found a method to play in those tough conditions.

“It's a great challenge no doubt, but one I have planned for and will be ready for no doubt, Playing spin in Australia has to be very different to playing spin over in Sri Lanka. I've worked out a method in Australia that has worked for me in my Shield career but will definitely have to work out a new one to be a good player over there," McSweeney said.