Corey Rocchiccioli keeps eye on Sri Lanka Test tour spot

A battle between two spinners for a “seat on the plane” is intensifying ahead of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka next year.

Offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli says he doesn’t “have a foot on the plane yet” but believes he’s in the hunt for a spot on Australia’s next Test tour after another superb Shield performance.

The West Australian bowler is determined to press his case for February’s two-match series in Sri Lanka after overcoming seam-friendly conditions to put his side in the box seat against Tasmania.

Rocchiccioli, 27, sent down 24.3 overs to claim figures of 4-70 over the first two days at the WACA as Tasmania was bowled out for 277 with WA 4-219 in reply.

It continued a strong challenge to Victoria’s Todd Murphy for a spot on the tour behind Nathan Lyon.

Australia is likely to pick two other specialist spinners to support Lyon in the Sri Lanka series, with one spot for an offspinner – Murphy or Rocchiccioli – and a spot for a bowler who turns the ball in the other direction – likely Mitch Swepson or Matt Kuhnemann.

Corey Rocchiccioli (pictured celebrating the wicket of Tasmania’s Mitch Owen) has an eye on Australia’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in February. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Rocchiccioli is the only member of that quartet without Test experience after Murphy and Kuhnemann performed well in India last year, but said he was out to “bang the door down” after receiving an Australia A call-up to play alongside Murphy in two weeks’ time.

“It’s something that I know is there, but I don’t think I have a foot on the plane yet,” he said when asked about the Sri Lankan tour.

“I think I’ve got five more Shield games and the Aussie A game to prove that I’m a candidate for it, and that means I’ve simply got to bang the door down with a sledgehammer.

“Murph bowled beautifully today, I saw some of his footage, and Kuhney bowled really well out here at times (for Tasmania on Monday).”

Rocchiccioli’s point of difference to the other spin contenders is his 190cm height and high release, which could be behind his superb record at the WACA, which has traditionally been a spin bowler’s graveyard.

In his 12 first-class games at the venue, he has so far pouched 46 wickets at an average of 23.20.

WA spinner Corey Rocchiccioli has taken 46 wickets in his 12 first-class games at the WACA, at an average of just 23.20. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

By claiming 46 wickets in 11 matches last summer, he took the most Shield wickets by a WA spin bowler since Bruce Yardley in 1980-81.

“I feel like Whitey (WA red-ball captain Sam Whiteman) and the team really respect what I’m doing at the moment,” Rocchiccioli said.

“They have that trust I can hit the stumps, especially on day one at the WACA (because of the extra bounce in the pitch).

“I certainly feel that’s my role coming into the first day (of a game) – if I can play a role in that first couple of sessions to get the batters to play a bit more, it’s a feather in my cap.”

Rocchiccioli said he selfishly wanted WA keeper Josh Inglis to “stay around as much as possible” after he powered the side into a strong position with an unbeaten 72 on Monday.

It came after No. 3 Hilton Cartwright moved to 52 before he retired to dash from the field to be with his wife for the birth of his second child.

Cartwright was listed as “retired not out”, and a chance to resume his innings on Wednesday.

Cooper Connolly, who was picked alongside Rocchiccioli in the Australia A squad, was unbeaten on 42 alongside Inglis at stumps.

Originally published as Corey Rocchiccioli keeps eye on Sri Lanka Test tour spot