Often the lone spinner in Australia’s Test match attack, Nathan Lyon wouldn’t mind joining forces with another tweaker in Mitchell Swepson as the hosts ponder over two spinners playing in the New Year’s Ashes Test in Sydney, starting January 5.
While the weather forecast and recent history of SCG as a venue – spinners average 48.17 since January 2010 – may discourage the Aussies from making that move, there is a line of thought that says it’s an ideal opportunity for them to blood Swepson in the mix with subcontinent tours lined up over the next 15 months.
All of Australia’s three away series in the new World Test Championship cycle will be played in the subcontinent. They travel to Pakistan in March-April for three Tests, two in Sri Lanka later in the year before making a push to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India next February-March.
“I think Swepo has been Queensland’s best player for a number of years. Obviously I’m a big fan of spin bowlers so probably watch him a lot closer than what I watch Marnus [Labuschagne] or Uzzie [Khawaja].
He’s been around our group for a long period of time now and when he gets his opportunity, no doubt he will take it and run.”
Lyon was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“I’m excited about our relationship, our friendship is fantastic already, but really excited about the opportunity to bowl in tandem with Swepo whenever that may come, whether that’s here in a couple of days or in Hobart or in Pakistan,”
he added.
Lyon’s excitement comes from the fact that he has seen Swepson grow as a bowler closely in the nets and at the first-class level for Queensland. The 28-year-old wrist-spinner has taken 153 wickets from his 49 first-class games at an average of 33.76 and an economy rate of 3.49.
Control could be an issue, but if there is a time to take the punt on Swepson, it is now against a struggling English side, two months prior to the tour of Pakistan.
What might also encourage Australia to think of fielding two spinners is the presence of the fast-bowling allrounder in Cameron Green, who has bowled some tight spells and provided timely breakthroughs in the Ashes so far.
