Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Nathan McSweeney given fiery Test initiation as WA’s Mitch Marsh bowls

Test newcomer Nathan McSweeney has been put to the test in his first session with the national squad, while West Aussie Mitch Marsh was put through his bowling paces at the WACA.

The Australian Test team stepped out for the first time since their February tour of New Zealand on Monday as they prepare for a blockbuster Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

After winning the selection ‘bat-off’ with Australia A, all keen eyes were on McSweeney as he prepared to likely open the batting against India’s star quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj.

And the signs were good as he started fielding warm-ups at third slip before joining opener Usman Khawaja and star Steve Smith for a hit on the newly prepared centre wicket.

His initiation became fiery as he faced his first balls from Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.

The South Australian struggled to lay bat on ball early, beaten multiple times on the outside and edging one away from Lyon.

But as the session moved along he looked more confident, leaving the ball outside off and nudging balls off his body.

At the other end, Smith and Khawaja, after being bowled leaving his second ball, opened up, peppering Lyon onto the western stand roof.

Meanwhile, Marsh finally put in a full session of bowling ahead of likely providing the overs injured all-rounder Cam Green would have against India.

He eased into his work with roughly two overs of warming up but was at full tilt as he bowled to Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.

Head attacked his bowling early, but Marsh found his length on the bouncy surface and tied the attacking middle-order basher down.

He appeared to bowl through the 40-or-so minute session with no difficulties and will be a valuable option for captain Pat Cummins across the five-Test series.

Marsh had been scheduled to bowl some overs during his two-game Sheffield Shield stint with Western Australia but wasn’t used and is believed to have not been ready.

The hulking all-rounder looked strong with the bat, going after full bowls while Labuschagne gave the bowlers a swap out with his mediums that have featured for Queensland this summer.

The Australian batting unit as a whole looked relaxed and in good condition on Monday.

Head, Smith and Carey all impressed with the bat while the big three quicks were sharp as ever.

Reserve bowler Scott Boland was one of the last to take to the middle but provided his usual tram-track style.