Test opener Usman Khawaja says Mitch Swepson has been a victim of “circumstances” and rejects suggestions the Queenslander has fallen down the “pecking order” of Australian spinners.
Leg-spinner Swepson is one of four tweakers in Australia’s squad for next month’s tour of India.
However, he no longer seems Australia’s second-choice spinner behind Nathan Lyon after left-armer Ashton Agar was chosen as Lyon’s co-spinner in the recent SCG Test against South Africa.
Perhaps helping Swepson’s cause of playing in the four-Test series against India was Agar’s ordinary bowling display in Sydney. He failed to take a wicket in 22 overs and rarely threatened the South African batsmen.
“I don’t particularly think he’s down the pecking order,” Khawaja said of Swepson.
“I just think circumstances this year have made it a little bit harder for him to get wickets.”
Swepson missed Queensland’s first Sheffield Shield match of the season in early October after being called into Australia’s T20 squad.
He then starred for the Bulls in a rain-affected clash against NSW in Drummoyne, taking eight wickets for the game.
However, Swepson was barely required in a couple of Shield matches that ended in quick time due to green-top wickets.
“At the start of the (season), he actually didn’t get to bowl a lot for us (Queensland) — we played on some pretty green wickets,” Khawaja said.
“Fast bowlers just dominated Shield cricket at the start of the (season), so it’s a bit unfair to then judge Mitch on the start of this (season) when he actually didn’t get a lot of wickets where he could bowl on.
“He has been a terrific bowler for us over a long period of time. I don’t like to look at what happened in this game, or that game – he has been unbelievable for us.”
“Us” includes the Brisbane Heat, who host the Hobart Hurricanes in Friday night’s BBL clash at the Gabba.
“He’s always been big, he’s always in the team,” Khawaja said.
