Shane Warne has called on Australia to give Steve Smith a Test debut
By Jay Clark
December 29, 2009
Shane Warne has declared young leg spinner Steven Smith "ready" to make a dream Test debut in Sydney in the New Year's Test, starting Sunday.
Warne urged selectors to pluck the baby-faced 20-year-old from obscurity and play two spinners in the second Test, provided the SCG pitch looks like it will turn.
Smith, who has taken only 11 wickets in nine first-class matches at an average of 75, has not even bowled to Australia skipper Ricky Ponting in the nets.
But Warne, who was impressed by his heir apparent in a 45-minute one-on-one coaching session on Sunday, said the time was right to usher in a new era of Australian spin bowling.
"The way he bowls he looks ready. As long as he thinks well, and I think he has a good head on his shoulders, he's a chance," Warne said.
"Ideally you want everyone to be playing 30 or 40 first-class games first so they know themselves a lot better and can learn their craft in all different conditions.
"But sometimes you haven't got that luxury. You could throw him in as a second spinner and if they do, I think he will do a good job."
Warne, the world's greatest leg-spinner who took 708 Test scalps, believes New South Wales leggie Smith has all the attributes required to succeed at the highest level.
"He is hungry, he is a good kid, he has a lot of talent and he bats well, so he's a good all-round cricketer," Warne said.
If picked, Smith would be one of the most courageous call-ups from selectors since they gambled on a young Warne, at the same ground against India, in 1992.
The visitors would almost certainly try to attack Smith as a way of getting back into the series.
Australia's spin stocks within the team have dipped with Simon Katich and Michael Clarke both preferring not to roll their arms over as a result of back injuries. That may leave only Marcus North to support frontline spinner Nathan Hauritz.
Pakistan are hopeful their No.1 leggie Danish Kaneria will recover from a finger injury in time for the Sydney Test.
"Kaneria is a very good bowler, with lots of variety in his bowling," Warne said.
"The one thing that he does lack though for a top-spinner is patience."
The visitors are desperate to play two spinners and pose a greater threat to the Australia batsmen at the SCG.
Warne said the selection dilemma for Australia was a difficult one as they would have to either drop a batsman or one of their quicks to make room for the untried Smith.
Warne said selectors were also cautious not to overload injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson with too much bowling.
"The thing going through the selectors' minds is do we keep it the same and just use Marcus North, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke (if fitness permits) to bowl some spin if needed?" he said.
"Because the one problem they have is if they decide to play two quicks and two spinners, Shane Watson will have to open the batting and bowl first change.
"But you need to know the conditions first.
"Sydney, most of the time, is a spinning wicket.
"But there have been times when we've gone up there and it's been raining so it might be a bit greener and seam around.
"So you might only want one spinner for the Test."
