Cricket legend Mark Taylor believes uncapped Australian spinner Mitchell Swepson can emulate what Stuart MacGill did on their tour of Pakistan in 1998.
The Aussies will next month head to Pakistan for the first time since Taylor captained the team 24 years ago. They’re scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs, and a Twenty20.
An 18-man squad was named last week, which featured three specialist spin bowlers. Experienced off-spinner Nathan Lyon is joined by Swepson and Ashton Agar, who both turn the ball away from the right-hander.
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Taylor is keen for Queensland leggie Swepson to make his Test debut, in the hope he emerges as the frontrunner to replace 34-year-old Lyon once the latter decides to hang up the whites.
“If Swepson was to play and debut then that will be a big challenge (in Pakistan),” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.
“I can go back to ’98 when Australia last toured Pakistan, and Stu MacGill did very well for us. Warnie (Shane Warne) didn’t go on that tour in ’98, and MacGill had a very good first Test match.
“A good leg-spinner can certainly turn and win you games of Test cricket over there.
“It will be a great challenge for him if he is to play.”
MacGill – a one-Test rookie at the time – took 15 wickets at 27.46 on the Pakistan tour, including a remarkable 9-113 in the first Test at Rawalpindi which the Aussies won by an innings and 99 runs.
His career was ultimately hampered by Warne – one of the greatest bowlers of all time – and MacGill played only 44 Tests for Australia, despite his talent.
Swepson, though, has a genuine opportunity to become the country’s first-choice Test spinner once Lyon retires.
Taylor has previously aired his concerns about Australia’s spin depth, with no clear Lyon replacement currently waiting in the wings.
Pakistan will likely see Swepson debut, and it may well be that he and Lyon play side by side in the same team.
“No doubt I think they could (play together) if they put out slow, low pitches which turn,” Taylor said.
“Now with (Cameron) Green in at No.6 Australia can easily play two quicks, two slows, and Green and we would have a very good bowling attack.
“That is definitely an option for Australia.”
The series will kick off with a Test match in Rawalpindi on March 4.
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