West Australian Cam Bancroft’s horror run of scores has continued, with the opener’s hopes of playing in the first Test ending with another single-figure dismissal.

Bancroft made it to three before pulling a short ball from Khaleel Ahmed to a fielder at square-leg in Australia A’s clash with India A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It came just minutes after Nathan McSweeney, now the clear frontrunner to open the batting with Usman Khawaja in Perth later this month, was caught at slip for 14.

McSweeney was elevated to open for the first time in his first-class career, left the ball well and appeared solid early before letting his bat linger on a ball outside off.

Bancroft’s second-innings score of 16 in last week’s opening tour match in Mackay is the only time he has reached double-figures this summer. He made a rare pair in the opening game of the Sheffield Shield season against Queensland, then eight and two against Tasmania and a duck to start last week’s victory.

Marcus Harris remains at the crease at the MCG and is batting to keep his own hopes of a Test recall alive.

McSweeney’s elevation to open in this match is the biggest hint selectors have offered so far as to who might take up the role at the top of the order for the crucial series.