MacGill’s injury was lucky break for Casson

Beau Casson said today Stuart MacGill’s mid-season wrist surgery was his lucky “break” to give him the chance to prove his worth to Australian selectors.

Casson, 25, was today named alongside MacGill as Australia’s specialist slow bowlers in a 15-man Test squad for next month’s West Indies tour.

Casson, with 29 wickets at 35.13 for Pura Cup champions NSW this summer, crossed from Western Australia for the 2006-07 season but a shoulder injury ruined his new beginning and eventually required reconstructive surgery.

But this summer everything fell into place for the left-arm wrist-spinner, thanks in part to MacGill’s unfortunate wrist injury.

Casson capped a stunning season with 4-126 and a vital innings of 89 in the Blues’ 258-run win over Victoria in the Pura Cup final last month.

“It was terrible that Stuie went down injured but it gave me an opportunity to bowl and get the overs that I required,” Casson told AAP today.

“To me that (getting an opportunity) was a big hurdle.”

Casson, who also made 485 runs at 60.62 in nine matches this season, was competing with Victorian Bryce McGain (38 wickets at 34.15) for the back-up spinner’s role behind MacGill in the Caribbean.

McGain, 36, took 1-44 and 2-107 in the final and Victorian coach Greg Shipperd later revealed the leg-spinner had a finger injury and wasn’t at his best for the final, pleading for selectors to judge him on the season and not just the last match.

“I had age on my side which is something that they are probably talking about a little bit,” Casson said.

“I knew if I could do well there’d be an opportunity further down the line and I probably peaked at the right end of the season which certainly helped with my selection.

“If you can do all three aspects of the game it is certainly going to help you with selection.

“Hopefully whether it is fielding batting or bowling, I could play a role in the side, particularly in the tough times when they need it.”

NSW captain Simon Katich said today Casson had proved himself all season to be capable of playing Test cricket.

“He has taken key wickets and he has made a lot of runs in pressure situations for us as well,” fellow Test-squad member Katich said.

“That all-round capacity no doubt has helped him get the nod as well.

“In the back half of the season his bowling has been outstanding.”

Casson said he was “pinching himself”.

“I’m a little bit hazy. I feel on cloud nine. I’m not sure if it’s actually real,” he said.