Doggett’s Heroics and McSweeney’s Grit Headline Opening Day in Mackay
On a bowler-dominated opening day in Mackay, Brendan Doggett’s career-best figures of 6 for 15 toppled the visiting India A team before Nathan McSweeney’s solid innings kept the home side, Australia A, in the game.
The selectors will have a tough time deciding the opening pair for the first Test in Perth after Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft, two of the contenders, were dismissed cheaply. However, Marcus Harris couldn’t convert his start, while McSweeney, batting at No. 4, showed promising form with a gritty 29 off 110 balls.
“The final decision would not hinge on a single innings. The team is weighing the ‘body of work’ for experienced players like Harris and Bancroft, while the relatively inexperienced Konstas and McSweeney are also in the mix.”
- Andrew McDonald, Australia A coach
Doggett was the star of the day, exploiting the helpful conditions to trouble the India A batters. After Mukesh Kumar removed the openers, Doggett ripped through the middle order, earning a career-best performance. Only Devdutt Padikkal, with 36, offered any significant resistance as India A were bowled out for 107.
In their reply, Australia A reached 99 for 4, with McSweeney’s solid effort helping them reduce the deficit to just eight runs. The battle for the opening slot in the Australian Test team remains wide open, with the selectors having plenty to ponder ahead of the Perth Test.
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