I Have Had One Eye On The India Tour In 2023 – Mitchell Swepson

Australian spinner Mitchell Shepton has admitted that he is ambitious to be part of the squad for the Test series in India next year. 

The Queensland player was part of Australia’s Test and ODI squad for their historic tour to Pakistan after 24 years.

Almost four years after making his international debut in the shortest format against England, Swepson got the opportunity to wear the Baggy Green in the Karachi Test of the Pakistan tour.

Swepson claimed Pakistan skipper Babar Azam as his maiden Test wicket and inflicted the run-out of opener Abdullah Shafique. Swepson mustered figures of 2/32 in his debut spell in the first innings but followed with a disappointing show of 0/156 in the second innings as Pakistan salvaged a draw on the back of Azam’s defiant knock (196). 

It will be a massive Test series in India: Mitchell Swepson

Swepson went on an academy tour to India in 2015 and was also a member of Australia’s squad for the four-Test series in the same country in 2017.

The 28-year-old wants to play in the challenging conditions of India when Australia tour there for four Test matches, that will determine the standings of the World Test Championship 2021-23. 

“I’ve had one eye on it [the India tour] for a while, so I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t. It’s certainly a massive tour for Australian cricket. India in India is the final frontier as some people would say, so it will be (a) massive series and the way the World Test Championship is, just adds that extra element,” Swepson told ESPNcricinfo. 

“But in saying that there’s also a massive summer here to go first and the boys have got to do well there. I’ll be ready to go [for the home series] if required, but chances are probably pretty slim, so I’ll just be waiting in the wings and trying to do my best for Queensland and Brisbane Heat,” he added. 

I really loved bowling with Nathan Lyon: Mitchell Swepson

Swepson has claimed 10 wickets in four games at an average of 45.8. He was part of four of the five Tests that Australia played in the tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

Swepson got the opportunity to bowl alongside veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, who is aiming at 450 Test scalps (currently has 438). 

“I might be a bit biased here, but I love seeing off spin and leg spin work in tandem. I think it’s really cool and you don’t really see it much, especially not in Test cricket. So I really loved bowling with Gaz (Nathan Lyon), he’s a great fella, he’s done so much for the game in Australia, so to be able to learn off him and see how he goes about it, bounce ideas off him, it’s made me a better bowler, and hopefully, I can get the chance to do it a lot more often,” Swepson said on his experience of working with Lyon. 

Australia will host the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in the months of October and November. The Aaron Finch-led side will defend its title at home after beating rivals New Zealand in last year’s final. 

Also Read: SL vs AUS: Doubts Began To Creep Into My Mind After Not Getting Wickets In Pakistan Tests – Mitchell Swepson