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McGain
confident Test dream is not over
Sydney—Bryce McGain, the Victoria legspinner, believes he still has a
chance to represent Australia despite being overlooked for the Test tour
of the West Indies. The selectors decided against choosing McGain, 36,
instead picking Beau Casson, 25, as the slow-bowling back-up for Stuart
MacGill.
However, with a four-Test tour of India later this year ahead of the
home contests against New Zealand and South Africa, McGain expects that
he will remain in the frame. “I’m hopeful that if I keep putting good
performances together and being consistent in my bowling and improving
other parts of my game that maybe there could be an opportunity there
for me,” McGain told Nine.
Although he is much older than Casson and the Cricket
Australia-contracted Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey, McGain says his
fitness and longevity should not be an issue. The past summer was the
first during which he was subjected to the rigours of first-class
cricket on a full-time basis.
He played every match as Victoria reached the Pura Cup final and was the
leading spinner in the competition with 38 wickets at 34.15. The success
has added to McGain’s hunger and he is certain that he can keep
improving as he gets more experience at state level.
“It’s been nice in my first year to, at the end of it, have people
talking about Australian selection, so I’m pretty satisfied with that
out of the season,” he said. “For now, it’s not my time, so I’ll go back
and work hard and be bigger and better the next year.”—Agencies |