Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has said the choice to pick Mitchell Swepson could trick India in the forthcoming Test series, as the hosts are unaware of the rookie spinner. Making a choice between Swepson and Adam Zampa, the Australian selectors went for the uncapped player, believing the surprise element could alter India’s domination at home.
During a Facebook live recently, Waugh, who lost his sole Test series against India as a captain, said Swepson could be handy and India should be wary the same fact.
“There’s an opportunity there. India haven’t seen him and I think that surprise element could be very handy. I think the selectors and (captain Steve) Smith have to work out whether his temperament is up to it. Think selectors believe he does because they picked him a bit from left field.”
The leg-spinner was quick in impressing selectors during his stint with Brisbane Heat in BBL this season, and thus earned his maiden Test spot post that. Australia, who haven’t won a Test match in sub-continent since 2012, is hopeful to change their dreadful looking equation in their next outing.
Waugh, who played 168 Test matches for Australia, said playing in front of a noisier crowd in India can squeeze anyone’s confidence, even the experienced ones, and that Swepson should be given an opportunity to play under pressure.
“His biggest issue would be handling that pressure in a big situation with the crowd making a lot of noise. Can he remain calm and composed. If he’s got the right temperament Australia will be tempted to throw him in that first Test squad. It does bring that element of surprise against the Indian batsman, they wouldn’t have seen too much of him they probably wouldn’t have planned too much against him.”
Ahead of the crucial series, Australia is currently practicing in Dubai and Swepson is making sure he gets his debut call in the first Test at Pune. In a video uploaded by Cricket Australia recently, opener David Warner is seen getting bowled on a peach of a delivery by the leg-spinner. Given the look of the turn he has got, India can’t surely write him off.
The right-handed batsman feels Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe might edge Swepson out but believes he might get into the mix by the end of the tour.
“My gut feeling is they won’t play him in that first Test match, they’ll go with O’Keefe and Lyon and potentially Maxwell as the third one.”
Australia and India will square-off in the first of the four Test matches in Pune from February 23.