Australia has long awaited that leg spinner to replace Shane Warne and it may be that the ‘King of Spin’ has hinted at a long term option to fill that void.
In commentary and on social media, Warne has called for Mitchell Swepson to be included in the squad for the Sydney New Year’s Test match. Although, the Australian selectors have opted for Lyon, O’Keefe and Agar as the spin options for that squad, there appears to be signs that Swepson may be the answer.
While trying to replace undoubtedly the greatest spinner of all time is akin to mission impossible, Australian teams throughout history have invariably performed best when selecting a leg spinner in the eleven. Names such as Warne, Grimmett, O’Reilly, Benaud and MacGill are testament to that.
The greater variation a ‘leggie’ can extract with the wrong’un, top spinner and ball that skids on adds to the appeal. Warne also demonstrated throughout his career on Australian pitches, like the Gabba’, that the extra bounce on offer can provide great assistance to a leg spin bowler. The fact that Nathan Lyon has performed so well on Australian pitches throughout his career so far only adds to his credibility as a quality off spinner, another point alluded to by Warne on social media yesterday.
Since the retirement of Warne in 2007, the Australian selectors have tried many leg spin options including the likes of Bryce McGain, Cameron White and the one-time leg spin hopeful, Australian captain Steve Smith. Others like Fawad Ahmed have also been mooted as possible Test selections.
With the arrival of Nathan Lyon into the Test arena in 2011 coupled with the depth of Australian fast bowling stocks, the urgency to find the next world class leg spinner has diminished somewhat. Yet there may be something there which the current form of Swepson suggests will develop further.
Swepson is still very new to the first-class scene, playing just the 14 matches to date, but already he has compiled some excellent figures for Queensland. He has taken 41 wickets at an average of 32.82, which statistically is very respectable for a cricketer of his experience. Vision of his bowling in the Big Bash for the Brisbane Heat also shows that he has a strong action and is a bowler that can think on his feet.
Despite Adam Zampa making a habit of taking wickets at the one-day international level with his leg spinners, his first class record is far less impressive than that of Swepson. Zampa averages 50.35 in comparison.
The emergence of a genuine leg spinner may also provide the Australian selectors with the opportunity of using Nathan Lyon in tandem with a wrist spinner, similar to arguably the last great off-spin leg-spin combination for Australia in Shane Warne and Tim May.
It was this combination that was used to such great effect in many Test matches, most notably the 1993 Ashes Series. This may in turn take the pressure off Nathan Lyon at times allowing him to slow down his pace and become a more attacking off-spinner.
However, like the great Shane Warne, Swepson will no doubt need time to find his feet at Test level and the foresight of selectors to give him that time. It is now folklore that Ravi Shastri dispatched Warne to all parts of the SCG during his debut in 1992.
Warne finished that match with figures of 1/150 and it was not until the following summer when he dismissed Richie Richardson at the MCG with that infamous ‘flipper’ that the genius started to surface.
To select Swepson for the tour to India in February and March would be the ultimate initiation for the young Queenslander. It could be considered a massive gamble. Then again it may be a gamble that pays dividends in the years to come.
Don Freo
Guest
That's an old comment. Quite poor stats this year. Now...not once upon a time...is what counts.
Basil
Guest
Might want to check his Shield stats Donny Boy.
Roth
Guest
I like the idea of giving Mitch Swepson a run at international cricket. But since he's been performing exceptionally in the BBL I think he should be given his chance in a similar environment. Select him for the upcoming T20s vs Pakistan, and maybe a couple of the ODIs, and then we can judge whether or not he's got what it takes
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I don't know why you'd be "amused" Bearfax. You suggested Holland's form was limited to this season, I pointed out that he'd been returning good figures for the past 3 seasons. The fact he's only played 10 matches in those seasons isn't his fault, he's just had has problems with injury and been stuck behind Fawad Ahmed at times too. But whenever he's had opportunities to play Shield in the past 3 seasons he's done very well.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Correct Tony and what about the NSW batting lineup Taylor, Slater, M.Waugh, S.Waugh, Bevan, G.Matthews etc that he struggled with, but it cuts both ways when you consider he never bowled to the all conquering Australian batting lineup in tests, so if you equate his 44 bowling average vs NSW to test level it would blow his test bowling average up towards 30 if he played against Australia's batsmen in tests.
Matth
Guest
We've been here before whenever a Leggie gets into a state side - Boyce, Zampa, Muirehead (remember him playing T20 for Australia?), Ahmed. I would need more convincing
blanco
Guest
If I was a selector I would definitely have chosen Swepson, definitely the most talented spinner to come out of Australia since Warne and Mac Gill. In saying that though Warne is being incredible harsh on O'Keefe.
bearfax
Guest
Only when they are a small sample Don. You know, like less than 2
Tony H
Roar Pro
Maybe.. But let's be more realistic about that. In Warne's era, a huge group of blokes averaged over 50 in Shield Cricket without playing tests. These days, 40 is rock star level. Warne bowled consistently to Law, Love, Maher, Hodge, Cox, Siddons and even Lehmann at Shield level. Forgive me if I don't suddenly think SOK has him beaten at first class level.
Peter Zitterschlager
Roar Guru
Did Trump pave the way for Warne, or the other way around? Either way, Warne's take on O'Keefe is symptomatic of this post-truth age.
Don Freo
Guest
That's what happens with stats Bear...you can make them do anything. ContextualFax.
Don Freo
Guest
Averaging 55 in ODD cricket? That's quite poor. Seems like he is in decline. He'd better hope selectors still think it is 2013/14 season.
Don Freo
Guest
How in the world do you know he doesn't watch domestic cricket? He certainly spends a lot of time coaching Australia's young spinners. He would know them well.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
The fact that Warnie threw up "Zampa or Swepson" shows he has no idea. He just loves the idea of a leggie getting a run so he can explain how they are doing it wrong. Claiming that O'Keefe is a "white ball specialist" is grounds for dismissal. Such a poor call. If I was that poor in my job, I would be looking for a new one quick smart, but because you are SK Warne, you get to say whatever you want, regardless of facts. I don't care that he has 700 Test wickets (and I think I saw 685 of them), he can bugger off into the wilderness and let Australian cricket move forward as far as Im concerned.
bearfax
Guest
Very amusing Ronan. Did you search through all the stats for that one. Of course you neglected to say he played only 3 Shield games in the 2014-15 season and two in the 2015-16 season. That's ten matches in three seasons so far. Certainly he impacted heavily on some of those matches but I would suggest its a lot different playing whole seasons and being exposed to batsmen who get to know your style, than to be kept hidden for that occasional foray. Good try though. However if by the end of the season his performances are still up there maybe he should be considered.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Maybe he doesn't like Okeefe because a finger spinner that spins it the same way as he did averages better than him in FC cricket?
Mal
Guest
Warne is ignorance personified.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Experience sitting on the sidelines?
Armchair Expert
Guest
SOK's 1st class NSW bowling record 169 wickets@24.3, Warne for Victoria 161 wickets@34.72, including 30wickets@44.13 against NSW.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Smith used to live with O'Keefe and last I heard they get on alright.