The Cricket Mentoring Podcast · Cricket Mentoring

The Plan to Combat the Indian Bowlers | Nathan McSweeney

·40 min·2 clips

Nathan McSweeney reviews every dismissal, then asks: “Was I clear? Did I react well?”

Nathan McSweeney joins the show from Brisbane three days out from a Test match. He says the dream of playing for Australia still feels brilliant, even if the day-to-day reality is harder than he imagined as a kid. The chat quickly shifts from feeling to process. McSweeney lays out how he prepares for each game by making notes on his phone about the bowlers he expects to face and the setup he wants against each one. His crease position matters. He explains that he changes where his back foot lands, how open or side-on he feels, and whether he is in the crease or out of it depending on the bowler. The matchups are specific. He talks through how he might stay in his crease against quicker pace, then get further out when facing a left-armer looking for lbw. There is a clear review habit too. After dismissals, he writes down what he felt, what he was thinking, and whether the dismissal came from technique or simple execution. Past innings get pulled back into the picture. A Shield hundred from last year is used as a reference point for what worked well, including leaving the ball, using his position in the crease, and punishing short balls when they were missed. The discussion broadens from his own routine. McSweeney and the host talk about Chris Rogers and why good batters learn to set up differently for different bowlers, rather than trying to use one fixed plan for everyone. A familiar South African example helps make the point. The idea is that a batter facing Steyn, Morkel, and Philander needs three different looks if he wants to give himself the best chance. The conversation also looks back on the academy days with Jack Edwards, Josh Philippe, Jake Weatherald, and the rest of the group, plus catching up again in England last year. It ends on a simple hope that the runs come in Brisbane and the opening spot stays his for a long time. McSweeney comes across as grateful, practical, and still sharpening how to do the job well.

As heard by us

A clear look at the small decisions behind a Test batter's work.

This conversation tracks Nathan McSweeney through the small, repeatable choices that sit behind Test batting, from a childhood dream of playing for Australia to the daily work of keeping that spot.

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Why you'd press play

If you want the pre-ball thinking behind a Test debut, start here.

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