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.
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