Why Mark Taylor believes new opening batsman Nathan McSweeney could be Australia's next skipper

Cricketing great Mark Taylor has declared new opening batsman Nathan McSweeney could be the next Test captain of Australia.

McSweeney has been selected to open the batting with veteran Usman Khawaja, in a hotly contested call that was confirmed on Sunday.

The Queenslander, who bats at No.3 for South Australia, is 25-years-old and will be the youngest in the Test side that will face India.

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And Taylor believes his youth is exactly what Australia requires to lead them into the next generation.

"Nathan McSweeney could be, if he cements his spot in the side, could be the potential Australian captain," Taylor said on Wide World of Sports on Sunday.

"He's 25-years-old, he's been around now for four years. You bring some leadership to that next group of players.

"Bear in mind, he's the only player under 30 in that Australian side."

McSweeney earned the spot over veteran Marcus Harris, while Josh Inglis has been named as spare batter and wicketkeeper.

Taylor is adamant the call was made with the future of Australian Test cricket in mind, considering Harris is 30 and Inglis is 29.

It also serves as a chance to see just what leadership qualities McSweeney can bring on debut, as he could potential space up as Pat Cummins successor in years to come.

"Cummins has probably got two or three years, maybe more left in his leadership," Taylor said.

And McSweeney will complement Khawaja out in the middle.

"He's a right handed batsman. I think that will go well with Usman Khawaja," he said.

The fearlessness of McSweeney is already on display, declaring he will happily face the first ball of the opening Test in Perth at the end of November.

"I've heard that Uzzie (Khawaja) is not the biggest fan of (the first ball) … I faced the first ball in both innings out here (for Australia A) so I'm comfortable with that too, and I've already been told that by a couple of the boys," McSweeney told media on Sunday.

Australia's squad for first Test

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Mitchell Starc