Kasper’s preferred bowling attack for India tour

WITH Cricket Australia revealing the extended squad that will take part in the tour of India during February, Michael Kasprowicz has shed light on who he wants to see on the field for the first test.

Kasprowicz possesses a wealth of experience on the sub-continent, appearing in seven Tests in India and taking 17 wickets in those matches.

With Nathan Lyon all but guaranteed to be Australia’s main spinner, the debate about who will join him has continued to dominate.

Despite his disappointing showing at the Sydney test, Ashton Agar is firming as the favourite to be the second spinner, while Mitchell Swepson and Todd Murphy were included in the squad as backup options.

Along with Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Steve Smith, Australia’s bowling stocks will give them a competitive edge against the hosts.

“If they take, Lyon, Agar and Swepson, I’m more than happy with that,” Kasprowicz said on Sportsday NSW.

“Even for a Mitch Swepson to go over there just for the experience, I know they’re not playing tour games like they use to, but just even being around the team, in the nets, all of those conditions just to get into it.

“If he gets a game, that’s awesome, I’d love to see that.”

Swepson, who has only played four tests for Australia, has long been on the cusp of a more regular role in the side but has been playing second-fiddle to the incumbent Nathan Lyon.

“But I always come back to the fact that with the fast bowlers we have, I think that’s the attack we have to take in, take in three fast bowlers,” Kasprowicz said.

“You’ve got Cameron Green, you can argue that’s four [fast bowlers], maybe that gives you the option to take two spinners, this is what they’ll end up doing, Cameron Green being one of your three seamers.”

Australia kick-off the tour of India with the first test on 9 February in Nagpur.

– BY DOMINIC CRINITI/ SEN