By IANS
Melbourne : Spin legend Shane Warne has anointed Victorian Bryce McGain as the front-runner to fill Australia’s spin department vacuum after Brad Hogg’s surprise retirement from the game.
“I suppose Bryce McGain has been the standout spinner from all over Australia over the summer. He has done exceptionally well in all forms of the game,” Warne said of McGain, who topped the Ford Ranger Cup wicket tally with 15 scalps and also took 29 Pura Cup wickets.
Hogg, 37, announced his retirement Wednesday and Australia’s spin stocks appear threadbare with Test and one-day tours scheduled to Pakistan, the Caribbean and India this year.
Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill is still on the comeback trail from surgery, leaving 35-year-old McGain in line for a baggy green.
While picking McGain as Australia’s spin remedy, Warne also believes the selectors can also think of giving a chance to youth.
“Australia can go for someone like Bryce or try a young bloke, throw a young guy in there. Maybe for Pakistan they might pick two or three spinners,” Warne was quoted by Herald Sun as saying.
However, Hogg was of the view that young off-spinner Dan Cullen and Nathan Hauritz should get a look-in.
“I think Dan Cullen has bowled pretty well and Nathan Hauritz from New South Wales (NSW) has had a pretty good couple of years in one-day cricket,” Hogg said.
Hogg said he had considered quitting after the Caribbean World Cup but Warne’s retirement and MacGill’s injury had given him one last chance to return to the Test team.