O’Keefe backs Swepson for Test glory
Australia Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe has backed young leg spinner Mitchell Swepson to become a success at Test level.
Swepson has earned call ups to the Test squad in the past but is yet to earn a cap having seen management favour calling O’Keefe into the XI from outside the squad while they were in Bangladesh.
However the veteran New South Wales spinner feels the Queensland man has what it takes to notch over 200 Test wickets for Australia.
O’Keefe was impressed with how Swepson took the disappointment of not playing on either the India or Bangladesh tours in his stride.
ALSO READ: Haddin shields players after drops
Tweaker O’Keefe told Cricket.com.au: “If he was disappointed, which I think he had every right to be given that situation, he certainly didn’t show it.
“He was always positive doing his duties.”
O’Keefe feels it is only a matter of time before Swepson earns his first Test cap though he stressed that Nathan Lyon remains Australia’s clear number one spinner.
He added: “I don’t think it will be long before he does play and when he does play I think he’s going to do a great job.
“Nathan is world-class, if not the best bowler in the world over the last 12 months, but if there’s a chance to play a leg-spinner I think he would slot in and do a fantastic job.
“The things that he might have learnt in the last couple of months particularly touring India and Bangladesh, and the confidence he got out of bowling to those guys (means) he probably thinks now that he’s ready.
“That confidence will be invaluable, the experience that he got to spend with the Australian cricket team will be invaluable for him.
“If in 10 years’ time we’re looking at a guy who’s got 200 Test wickets bowling leg spin again, which we haven’t seen for a while, I think he’ll look back on that and really draw on those experiences.
“I’m sure when he does get his chance he will do really well.”
Swepson recently took a second first class five-for in a Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Cairns.
Latest
-
NewsHeather Knight excited by freedom on offer after New Zealand quarantine
England Women will be able to break out of the coronavirus ‘bubble’ lifestyle in a country which has effectively contained the disease.
-
NewsSri Lanka v England day one: Tourists carve out dominant performance in Galle
The tourists skittled Sri Lanka for 135 then replied with 127 for two.
-
NewsStuart Broad and England in ‘dream world’ after superb first day in Sri Lanka
Broad took three wickets and Dom Bess five before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow took England within eight runs of their hosts’ total.
-
NewsEngland dominate day one of Sri Lanka Test after brilliant Stuart Broad start
Broad’s early scalps set the tone for a day England ended just eight runs behind their opponents with eight first-innings wickets intact.
-
NewsBoucher says its time for Proteas to get back to Pakistan
Mark Boucher will direct the Proteas on their first tour of Pakistan since 2007 which gets underway later this month.
-
NewsStuart Broad and Dom Bess run through lacklustre Sri Lanka on day one
The hosts made just 135 after winning the toss and electing to bat.
-
NewsEngland make early inroads as Stuart Broad strikes
Sri Lanka slipped to 65 for three on the first morning after opting to bat in Galle.
-
NewsJos Buttler: I felt anxious and out of place at start of international career
Buttler admits to feeling daunted at being in close proximity to established stars.
-
NewsJacques Kallis admits to warming to the idea of helping arch enemy England
The South African is the third-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket.
-
NewsGraham Onions admits coaching chance is a huge relief after premature retirement
A back issue sustained on the eve of the Bob Willis Trophy led to the 38-year-old announcing his retirement.