Swepson into Test squad
FORMER national coach Darren Lehmann says Mitchell Swepson has the talent “to go the whole way” after the Queensland leg spinner’s selection yesterday in the Australian squad for the New Year’s Test against New Zealand in Sydney.
The 26-year-old will join the Test squad in Melbourne this week to begin preparations in case he is called up for a baggy green debut at the SCG from January 3.
Long on the radar of national selectors, Swepson has made a solid start to the summer with 12 Sheffield Shield wickets at 26.58 from six matches, including a hat-trick against Victoria.
Swepson toured India and Bangladesh with the Australian
Test squad in 2017 under Lehmann but did not play.
While Australian leg-spin legend Shane Warne is a big fan of Swepson, the Brisbane product has struggled for consistency and that’s what Lehmann says the spinner must improve to earn a baggy green.
“I took him on a couple of tours with the Australian team as the second spinner,” Lehmann said yesterday.
“He has bowled really well for Queensland in the last few (Shield) games. It’s about him continuing to develop.
“We want him to become the best leg spinner he can.
“He’s got the talent to go the whole way.
“His consistency (is where he needs to improve) ... getting wickets all the time and being like that in the longer format.
“He will get wickets in T20 because they’ll go after him.”
Selectors are weighing up whether to play two spinners at the SCG.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is a certainty to be picked and Swepson is in the mix if the wicket looks like it may turn, although No. 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne has been preferred as the second spinning option recently.
“Having Mitch in Sydney gives us the option to play two specialist spinners if the conditions demand,” chief selector Trevor Hohns said. “We will make those assessments when we get to Sydney.”
Swepson has taken 110 firstclass wickets at 35.31 from 39 matches. He made a sole T20 international appearance for Australia against England at Birmingham in 2018, taking 2-37 on debut.