Swepson’s debut, in a side not renowned for its spinners, will be the first by a frontline leg-spinner in Australia’s men’s Test team since Bryce McGain in 2009.
Mitchell Swepson, Australia’s leg-spinner, is likely to make his Test debut against Pakistan, with captain Pat Cummins confirming his participation in the series’ second match. On the eve of the Test, Cummins told Swepson that he would be Nathan Lyon’s deputy in the spin column, while pacer Josh Hazlewood will sit out.
Swepson, who was called into Australia’s red-ball squad for the first time in 2017 during the tour of India, has only been capped at the international level in T20Is and has spent the most of his Test career on the bench. In 51 first-class matches, he took 154 wickets at 34.45, including four five-wicket hauls.
When he was included in Australia’s XII in January 2020, he came close to making his debut against New Zealand in Sydney, but he didn’t make the cut. Swepson’s debut, in a side not renowned for its spinners, will be the first by a frontline leg-spinner in Australia’s men’s Test team since Bryce McGain in 2009.
“He’s delighted, and to be honest, we’re all psyched for ‘Swepo,'” Cummins said at a virtual news conference in Karachi, where the second match will take place. “Over the previous couple of years, he’s been running drinks for a long time, but he’s completely ready.”
“Even though he hasn’t been playing, he has been an integral member of the group.” As a result, we’re ecstatic to see him given a shot. The surface is a little bit drier here, and it’s traditionally been a little kinder to spinners.”
Meanwhile, the first Test in Rawalpindi concluded in a dull stalemate on a surface that offered bowlers little. The game saw 1187 runs scored for the loss of 14 wickets, prompting ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle to assess the surface as “below ordinary.”
For the second Test against Pakistan, Australia has named an XI.
Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner, David Warner, David Warner, David Warner, David Warner,