Published: Feb 15, 2017, 06:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 16, 2017, 12:47 PM (IST)
‘Who is Mitchell Swepson?’ would have been a common scream across all newsrooms in India when Australia picked a rookie leg-spinner in their touring party. ‘Why not Adam Zampa?’, the second. That Australia, so meticulous, decided to go ahead with Swepson over Zampa came as a surprise, especially after the latter ended 2016 with most ODI wickets and has a rich experience of playing in the IPL. Swepson’s selection seems to be even more bemusing when a glance at his numbers on home soil does not promise enough, barring his exploits in the previous Big Bash League (BBL). Swepson’s selection for India tour, thus, may land Australia in further dilemma, since they have plenty of spin options to choose from. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia 1st Test at Pune
Australia have Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Ashton Agar and even Glenn Maxwell as their options for spin bowling, but the presence of Swepson throws up a dilemma which Australia may find themselves as the journey progresses. A leg-spinner with only 14 First-Class matches and 41 wickets at 32.82, Swepson does not scream out loud for selection. But his performance in the BBL 2016-17 and an endorsement from no other than Shane Warne has prompted the selectors to give him an opportunity.
It is important to understand exactly what Trevor Hohns and co see in the 23-year-old. Touted as an ‘attacking’ option among the four spinners Australia have brought to India, Swepson is said to be the one who can rev the cricket ball impressively, a talent which separates him from the other spinners in the team.
The same talent was observed keenly when Australia spent close to two weeks at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai, when Swepson shattered David Warner’s stumps when the batsman shouldered his arms, on one of the many deliveries bowled in the training camp. ALSO READ – India A vs Australia tour match preview: Visitors face domestic Indian stars
Australia are desperate; any team would be, for that matter, if it loses 9 Tests on the trot in a specific setting. Dusty wickets, low bounce, plenty of runs and teams on the other end being experts in their conditions are among the reasons for Australia’s plight. But it is about Australia as much as it is about the opposition, and for the first time, an extensive preparatory run in the build-up to the India tour certifies that. Keeping this in mind, Swepson’s presence in the team shows its importance since they do not want to miss out on not carrying a leg-spinner to India.
Australia’s hopes are pinned on the revs that Swepson gives to the ball, but looking at the kind of wickets that India have competed on, he will need better control over the ball. The wickets have assisted turn only from the third day onwards, which means tough times can be endured by bowlers if they are operating in the first innings.
To his credit, Swepson has been admitting all along that he has got chances when he did not feel like he was ready.
“When I first got picked for the Shield team I didn’t think I was ready, sort of got thrown in the deep end there,” Swepson was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. “Same thing when I made my BBL debut I didn’t think I was ready. But it’s part of the game, if you get the opportunity it’s about taking it. I wasn’t expecting to be in a Test squad touring India, but it’s gone well for me being thrown in the deep end so far in my short career, so I’m really looking forward to any opportunity I can get over there and hopefully grab it with two hands.”
Swepson has got chances in the Queensland side for Sheffield Shield in the last two seasons, but his best days so far have been in the BBL, and in the A series which he played against India and South Africa last year.
In the solitary unofficial Test that he played against India, Swepson claimed 5 wickets with 4 for 78 being his best performance. Against South Africa at Townsville, he bagged 3 for 53 and 4 for 33 in the two innings to help Australia A win by 10 wickets. He claimed 9 wickets in 2 unofficial Tests to push his case for a Test call-up, which eventually arrived after a successful BBL. Swepson played the BBL 2016-17 for Brisbane Heat, and claimed 12 wickets in 9 matches at 21.25, and had an impressive economy of 7.50.
Even though Swepson has landed in India and may stand a chance to make his Test debut in time to come, he knows his abilities as a bowler and carries no false expectations from himself. “I’m a leggie who likes to rip the ball. I’ve been taught since I was a youngster to always give the ball a good rip. You’re going to go for a few runs. You’re going to go for some pump but I think if you spin the ball hard and get the ball to talk through the air, that’s how you’re going to get your wickets,” he was quoted as saying by The Australian.
“That’s how I go about it. I know I’m going to go for runs. I know I’m going to bowl some poor balls. But at the end of the day, if I get the wicket, that’s what I’m looking for. Any spinner, and any cricketer, wants to test themselves against the best. India in India against Virat Kohli and the best players of spin in the world, what better challenge could you want? It’s worked well for me so far in my career, being thrown in at the deep end.”
Adil Rashid, the last leg-spinner to tour India gave away at least 100 runs every time he took 5 or more wickets. Interestingly, he claimed 23 wickets over 5 Tests, but his economy of 3.70 was a far cry compared to any other bowler in the top five. Rashid was milked for runs, picking a wicket after giving away almost 38 runs.
If selected, Swepson and Australia will want to have a different fate.
