MELBOURNE: Australia's 36-year-old leg-spinner Bryce McGain admitted that a recent bowling session with Shane Warne has prepared him to face the strong Indian batting during the next month's four-Test tour.
Uncapped McGain has suddenly become Australia's leading spinner with rookie Tasmanian off-spinner Jason Krejza, 25, also included in a 15-man squad.
McGain tried out last month's tuition with Warne during the just-completed Australia A tour of India, claiming three early Indian wickets before rain ruined the short, two-match series.
McGain and fellow Victorian leg-spinner Cameron White spent some time bowling with Warne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) indoor nets a month ago, a session that McGain found invaluable.
"I've followed Shane's career closely, as I have with all spinners in different conditions because that's basically how I've learnt to bowl," McGain was quoted as saying in The Australian.
"He went over there (to India) three times and on the first two tours he wasn't that successful but on the third tour he was so he filled me in with some of his experiences.
"That was very important because it gave me a plan and a mindset (for the A tour) and I was able to go straight to that."
While giving away none of the technical details passed on by Warne, McGain said the spin great prepared him for a full on assault by Indian batsmen.
"They did exactly what I expected. They went ultra-hard and tried to whack me out of the park at every opportunity. You know they're going to hit you. They're not going to wait for a bad ball. They're going to hit you straight away. In my first over the batsman slog-swept me over mid-wicket but next ball he was on his way lbw."
If he plays, as expected, McGain will be the oldest Australian debutant since fellow leggie Bob Holland played his first Test at the age of 38 in 1984.
