Question from Darshak: “Was the anointing of McSweeney as a future Australian captain (before he had even played a single Test!) a tad premature?”

Certainly true that McSweeney needs to make his place secure in the team, but at 25 and with a long record of leadership appointments behind him already, there is plenty of evidence to suggest he has been identified as such. The other facet of leadership is opportunity, and Pat Cummins has lately suggested he now expects to remain captain until the “mega year” in 2027 that takes in India and Ashes tours and an ODI world cup. By that stage, the selectors will be looking towards McSweeney’s generation.

Question from Peter: “Considering there is likely less than two days’ worth of time to bowl twice at India, it seems a draw could be on the cards. Have Australia ever taken 20 wickets across less than two full days play before? And if so, against India?”

They did so as recently as India’s previous Australian tour, knocking India over in a combined 114.3 overs in Adelaide. Also in India in 2023, India’s two innings in Indore occupied just 93.5 overs. In Test cricket these days, the game tends to move far quicker than it once did, so Australia need not lose hope, particularly after snagging three early wickets.