Sheffield Shield: Mitch Swepson excited to have chance to play against Nathan Lyon

Queensland leg-spinner Mitch Swepson continues to be patient in his bid for Test selection, but there’s one clash he’s relishing.

Mitchell Swepson (left) celebrates a wicket with Queensland teammates during the Bulls’ Sheffield Shield win over Tasmania. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Test hopeful Mitch Swepson is relishing the prospect of a rare head-to-head battle with off-spin great Nathan Lyon in the Queensland-NSW Sheffield Shield clash starting on Friday in Adelaide.

The pair will likely have plenty of overs to bowl on a flat Karen Rolton Oval pitch that will favour batsmen.

And that’s fine with Bulls leg-spinner Swepson, who started the Shield season in fine form, taking 4-66 from 45 overs in the second innings of Queensland’s comprehensive win over Tasmania at Gladys Elphick Park in Adelaide earlier this month.

“It’s a different ground but it’s similar conditions – it looks pretty tough for the bowlers,” Swepson said.

“We’re going to have to work in some ways to try to take 20 wickets, which was something we were able to do last game, so hopefully we can do it again. Everyone’s excited for the challenge.”

Just as Swepson was excited about Test spinner Lyon being part of the NSW side.

“I don’t get to play against ‘Gaz’ match. He’s always away with the Test team,” Swepson said.

“We’re in an era at the moment we’re we’ve got the best off-spinner of all time. Nathan Lyon’s an unbelievable bowler.”

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Swepson, 27, was 12th man for Australia in last summer’s third Test against New Zealand at the SCG, where Lyon took 10 wickets for the match to guide the hosts to a 279-run win.

“That’s given me a little bit of a taste of it,” said Swepson, who also toured Bangladesh with the Test team in 2017.

“Test cricket’s obviously a hard place to get to, and with them being so successful at the moment, it’s making it even harder.

“I’m not really frustrated, it’s more about keep performing for my state, and if that Test opportunity comes, then I’ll be there waiting.

“My better years are still ahead of me, and I’m a 100 per cent better bowler than I was a year ago.”

With the first match of the upcoming Australia-India four-Test series being a pink-ball, day-night affair in Adelaide, Swepson’s best chance of making his Test debut would again be the Sydney Test in January when the hosts might be tempted to play two spinners.

“Sydney’s usually the one that spins the most,” he said.

“But there are some serious fast bowlers that are sitting on the sidelines not playing games, so the selectors will look to give those guys a go as well.

“I’m not trying to get my hopes up too much, so we’ll see what happens.”