Opportunity knocks for Tredwell

Cricket365
December 24, 2013

Spinner James Tredwell is determined to succeed in the absence of the veteran Graeme Swann, if required in the fifth and final Ashes Test, which will get underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground in early January.

Swann retired from international and first-class cricket with immediate effect last week. Tredwell and the uncapped Scott Borthwick have subsequently been added to the squad. The latter, however, won't be available for this week's fourth fixture in Melbourne.

"I've shown what I can do over the last few months, certainly in the ODI game, and I've played a Test before, so I think I've proved I can do it at this level," Tredwell told <i>Sky Sports News</i>.

"But it's about showing you can do it over a period of time. It's not going to be easy to emulate Swann's feats over the last few years, but it's there for someone like myself to put my hand up.

"There's no doubt his accomplishments are vast and to fill those shoes will be quite difficult but that is the challenge of sport.

While leg-spinner Borthwick sports an outside chance of selection at the MCG, left-armer Monty Panesar will most likely be chosen to fill the void left by Swann's departure.

"Monty is obviously in the box seat at the moment and he is going to get the first opportunity," added Tredwell. " But I'm there for the fifth Test in Sydney and that can be the ground in Australia that can turn at times.

"I'm just going to go out there and do what I can to put my name in the ring and see what comes. If you get that opportunity you want to take it with both hands and make contributions to a winning team."