Queensland spinner Mitchell Swepson added to Australian squad for SCG Test

Australia could take two specialist spinners into the SCG Test with Queensland leggie Mitchell Swepson added to the squad, prompting a glowing endorsement from Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann.

Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann says Mitchell Swepson has the talent “to go the whole way” after the Queensland leg-spinner was drafted into the Test squad.

Swepson was on Thursday added to the Australian squad for the New Year’s Test against New Zealand in Sydney.

The 26-year-old will join the Test squad in Melbourne this week to begin preparations in case he is called up for a baggy green debut at the SCG from January 3.

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Mitch Swepson could bowl alongside Nathan Lyon in Sydney. Picture: AAP

Swepson has long been on the radar of national selectors but is yet to make his Test debut.

He has had a solid start to the 2019-20 summer with 12 Sheffield Shield wickets at 26.58 from six matches, including a hat-trick against Victoria.

Swepson toured India and Bangladesh with the Australian Test squad in 2017 under Lehmann but did not play.

While Australian leg spin legend Shane Warne is a big fan of Swepson, the Brisbane product has struggled for consistency in his bowling and that’s what Lehmann says he must improve to earn a baggy green.

“I took him on a couple of tours with the Australian team as the second spinner,” Lehmann said.

“He has bowled really well for Queensland in the last few (Shield) games. It’s about him continuing to develop.

“We want him to become the best leg spinner he can. He’s got the talent to go the whole way.

“His consistency (is where he needs to improve). Getting wickets all the time and being like that in the longer format.

“He will get wickets in T20 because they’ll go after him.”

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Swepson has been added to the Test squad as selectors weigh up playing two spinners at the SCG.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is a certainty to be picked and Swepson is in the mix if the wicket looks like it may turn, although No. 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne has been preferred as second spinning option recently.

“Having Mitch in Sydney gives us the option to play two specialist spinners if the conditions demand,” said chief selector Trevor Hohns.

“We will make those assessments when we get to Sydney.”

Swepson has taken 110 first class wickets at 35.31 from 39 matches.

He made a sole T20 international appearance for Australia against England at Birmingham in 2018, taking 2-37 on debut.

Swepson has taken five wickets in the Brisbane Heat’s first three matches of the BBL this summer, wish his vastly improve wrong-un reaping rewards in the shortest form of the game.

His elevation to the Test squad proves he is still in the sights of national selectors, but it is also a blow to the Heat’s BBL campaign given they are already without Test representatives Joe Burns, James Pattinson and Labuschagne.