Author: Australian Associated Press

• South Australian to debut at top of batting order in first match in Perth
• In-form Josh Inglis also picked as batter in 13-player squad

Australia have settled on Nathan McSweeney to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the start of the blockbuster Test series against India. After an outstanding start to the domestic season, McSweeney has beaten Marcus Harris for the vacant spot in the Australian XI.

McSweeney will become the first Australian player in 47 years to make his Test debut as an opener despite never having batted there at Sheffield Shield level. The 25-year-old top-scored in both innings of the first Australia A match in Mackay when batting at No 4. But he was unable to convert starts – 14 and 25 – in both innings as Australia A closed out a six-wicket win in the second match at the MCG.

• Australia 163; Pakistan 169-1
• First home nine-wicket defeat in an ODI since 1992

World champions Australia have been embarrassed by Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their ODI history.

After posting only 163, Australia were then punished in the field by Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64 not out) as the tourists raced to a nine-wicket victory in the second ODI with 141 balls to spare. It is the first time since 1992 Australia have lost a home ODI by nine wickets. They avoided becoming the first Australian team to lose a white-ball match at home by 10 wickets when Adam Zampa ended the 137-run opening stand.

• Retired opener wants Cricket Australia to explain investigation
• Umpire claimed ‘scratch’ on ball in tour match against Australia A

David Warner has accused Cricket Australia of sweeping the India A ball-tampering accusation under the carpet, suggesting officials had quickly “squashed” the issue before the Test summer.

Warner officially declared closure on his own ball-tampering scandal on Wednesday, after being announced as the Sydney Thunder’s new BBL captain. The 38-year-old’s appointment comes just a fortnight after his lifetime leadership ban was lifted, removing the last remaining sanction from Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering saga.

• Australia A captain batted at No 4 in first tour match against India
• Marcus Harris named to open ahead of Cam Bancroft and Sam Konstas

In-form Nathan McSweeney has one foot in the Test team after being confirmed as opener for the final Australia A game. The South Australia captain was the only contender for the vacant batting spot in Australia’s top six to fire in last week’s win against India A in Mackay.

McSweeney top-scored twice in the game, including hitting an unbeaten 88 in the second innings as Australia A sealed a seven-wicket victory over India A. The 25-year-old batted at No 4 in both innings of that match but has been promoted to open with Marcus Harris in the four-day match at the MCG starting on Thursday.

• Umpires change ball before day four of match in Mackay
• Ishan Kishan also cleared after being put on report for dissent

India’s A team have been cleared of ball-tampering and will escape any sanction, after initially appearing to be accused of causing scratches on it against Australia A.

In an explosive start to the summer, the A-match in Mackay threatened to boil over on Sunday morning when umpires changed the ball before play on day four.

• South Australia captain closes on half century against India A
• Sam Konstas, Marcus Harris and Cam Bancroft all out cheaply

Nathan McSweeney has the chance to assert himself as the favourite for the Test vacancy after closing in on a half-century in Australia A’s second innings against India A.

On day three in Mackay, Australia A captain McSweeney (47 not out from 98 balls) was by far the most impressive of the four leading candidates to open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja this summer.