Casson Hanging On Windies Break
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday April 1, 2008
THE moment has arrived. After years of discussion and debate, Australia's selectors will reveal this week whom they regard as the likely successor to Australia's spin veterans Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.
Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, confirmed the touring squad to the West Indies would be named before the end of the week, and said it would include two specialist spinners. The first spinning position will almost certainly go to MacGill, now rested and recuperated after elbow surgery, but it is the second slot that will provide most intrigue."Obviously, the hope has been that a young spinner would see the long-term opportunity that is present at the moment and put his hand up," Hilditch said. "Some of them have done well at various stages. The reality with the West Indies is that you probably need two spinners, because it is such a long way away and flying in replacements at the last minute is very difficult. And with Stuart [MacGill] there, there is the opportunity for a new spinner to learn the ins and outs."Bryce McGain and Beau Casson will presumably duel for the second spinning slot. McGain led all slow bowlers with 38 Pura Cup wickets but, at the age of 36, the Victorian does not appear the long-term solution selectors are seeking. Casson, on the other hand, overcame an indifferent first half of the season for NSW to claim an impressive 21 wickets at 26.43 in the last four matches. He also scored 485 runs at 60.62 in the Blues' middle order.Cricket Australia's centrally contracted spinners, Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey, have struggled to hold their places in the South Australian team through the season, and would seem little chance of earning selection for the West Indies tour."I think with the position Australian cricket is in, you need to start taking a young spinner on tours, even if that means they don't play any games and bowl in the nets the whole time," said Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert. "If they don't get a game they will still learn about life on tour ... "The key to Beau is his confidence. He had a rough time of it when he first moved over [from Western Australia], but I think he settled down as this season went. In the end, we won a Pura Cup without Stuart MacGill there for a large part of it, and a lot of the credit there has to go to Beau. McGain has obviously had a strong year, but it would seem a bit odd to take two spinners away when both are over 36 years old."The 14- or 15-man squad is likely to be dominated by players from NSW. Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark will presumably retain their places, while MacGill and Brad Haddin seem certain to replace the recently retired duo of Brad Hogg and Adam Gilchrist respectively. Simon Katich is also a strong chance, as a spare batsman.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald