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Leg spinner Bryce McGain is elated to be featured in 15-member squad for Australia’s forthcoming tour of India.
The 36-year old was recently named as part of the squad which is set to tour India for a four-Test series beginning October 9.
But despite his age, McGain is proud of being included in his national squad. “My age aside, I hope to do this not just for one Test, but hopefully for a few years to come,” he was quoted as saying.
McGain has picked up 57 wickets in 19 first-class games with an average of 33.82. He was part of the Australia A squad that toured India earlier this month. McGain picked up three wickets in the first Test of that series. The second (and final) Test was abandoned due to persistent rain after the visitors played 23.1 overs on the first day.
The spinner who claimed the wickets of India A batsmen Robin Uthappa, Parthiv Patel and Subramaniam Badrinath in the first Test said, “I guess I don’t really understand when to give up and I’m happy that this has come.”
Australia’s tour to India, also known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will consist of four Test matches and McGain, who has not worn the ‘Baggy Green’ yet, is well aware of the reputations the Indians have against spin bowling.
“It’s a mighty challenge, they’re good players of spin. With the years preceding, I’m very calm about what I do and I know what I can do very well – I will just put that into play,” said the Victoria-born spinner.
Since the retirement of Shane Warne early last year, Australia has been on the look-out for someone to fill the legendary spinner’s shoes. Stuart MacGill played that part to perfection till he too called in his retirement a few months ago.
Beau Casson was then given a chance to prove himself but Casson was not selected in the 15-member squad to tour India.
This could well be the best chance for McGain, a former professional IT worker, to make it big in the world of cricket, despite his age.
The first Test between India and Australia gets underway on October 9 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bangalore.
May 20, 2010 at 11:10 am
Australian Team is known for the Test Cricket. Every Australian player loves to be part of the Australian Cricket Team. He is good spinner and I hope he helps the Australian Team in winning the Match.