Australia vs New Zealand: Shane Warne wants the hosts to include Mitchell Swepson in the XI for Sydney Test

The Australian Cricket Team is on a roll in the ongoing summer. After having swatted aside Pakistan 0-2 early on in the summer, the home side was expected to be tested by their Trans-Tasman rivals and the current No.2 ranked side in the world, New Zealand. But it has turned out to be one-way traffic with their fast bowlers ruling roost against the hapless Kiwi batting unit.

In the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Pat Cummins [5-28] claimed yet another five-wicket-haul while James Pattinson claimed three as the New Zealanders were bundled out for 148 in reply to the Aussies first innings total of 467. Such has been the ruthlessness of the Australian bowling attack that it is impossible to drop or rest any of the bowlers. However, former champion leg-spinner Shane Warne is looking at the bigger picture.

With Australia not having any replacement for the star off-spinner Nathan Lyon, Warne wants the Aussies to blood-in leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson for the last Test of the summer [at the Sydney Cricket Ground]. He thinks that Australia should give some time to the leggie to find his feet in the International circuit as the high-profile series against India looms next summer. “What an opportunity to rest a quickie with some stuff going on and India coming up,” Warne told Fox Cricket.

Shane Warne happy to see a leg-spinner back in Australia squad

Shane Warne urged the Australia selectors to find a place for Swepson in the playing XI for the SCG Test. And he feels the best way to do it is either by resting one of the bowlers or by dropping one of the batsmen and push Tim Paine to No.6.

“It might hurt at the moment for someone to give up a Test match; Nathan Lyon or one of the quicks because it’s the last Test of the summer. Maybe leave a batsman out and play all five; push (Tim) Paine up to No.6. Just give (Swepson) a chance and just find a spot for him.

He is spinning them really well and giving them a rip. Good shape on the ball. It’s great to see a leg-spinner back into the squad,” Warne further said. Speaking of Swepson, the leg-spinner has claimed 110 FC wickets from 39 games at an average of 35.31.

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