Australia vs India: Nathan McSweeney hopes to ‘throw more punches’ at Jasprit Bumrah

Australia opener Nathan McSweeney says he hopes to “throw a few more punches” at India quick Jasprit Bumrah in the third Test which starts at the Gabba on Saturday (00:20 GMT).

McSweeney, 25, has been dismissed by Bumrah three times in four knocks so far and has only managed to score nine runs against him.

Bumrah has 12 wickets in the two Tests including an unplayable spell of 5-30 in India’s 295-run win in the first Test in Perth, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc has 11 wickets as the hosts dominated the pink ball Test in Adelaide.

But McSweeney hopes the challenge posed by the “unique” Bumrah will serve him well for the rest of the series and his career.

“To get a bowler like Jasprit early on in my career, it’s not going to get much tougher than that,” McSweeney told Cricket Australia.

“Hopefully I’ll get better the more I face him, and I can throw a few more punches here at the Gabba.”

Australia have struggled to replace David Warner’s consistency at the top of the order since his retirement, with McSweeney and the experienced Usman Khawaja’s opening stand of 24 in the second Test being their highest so far.

But a return to form for number three Marnus Labuschagne, with a gritty first-innings 64, and Travis Head’s run-a-ball 140, should boost the confidence of the batting line-up despite Bumrah’s brilliance.

“Facing him for the first time, he’s quite a unique bowler, so it’s just about adapting to his angle and where he delivers on the crease,” McSweeney added.

“I got two pretty good balls from him [in Perth], so I try and just wear that on the chin and trust that what I’ve been doing is going to be good enough.

“He got me again in Adelaide but I’m really enjoying the experience of trying to work out a game plan on the run against a world-class bowler.”

The third Test begins at 00:20 GMT on Saturday 14 December with ball-by-ball commentary available on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.