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Swepson grabs pink ball after Kohli praise

3 minute read

In-form spinner Mitch Swepson will have a golden chance to test himself against India's Test batsmen in a pink-ball tour game at the SCG.

AARON FINCH.
AARON FINCH. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Mitch Swepson is relishing a pink-ball test against India's stars after earning praise from captains Aaron Finch and Virat Kohli plus man-of-the-match honours in Australia's final Twenty20.

Swepson snared 3-23 from four overs during Australia's dead-rubber victory at the SCG on Tuesday night, prompting a watchful Kohli to describe him as a "really good bowler".

"He backed himself... you can see when guys are going to step up for their team. It was very evident in his body language," Kohli said.

Finch highlighted Swepson's courage and character in the post-match ceremony.

The legspinner snared a competition-best 23 wickets at 21 during the Sheffield Shield Hub then remained in red-ball mode until last Thursday, when he was withdrawn from the Australia A squad and rushed to Canberra for the first T20.

Swepson claimed the prized scalp of Kohli in the series opener then starred in the following two games.

The 27-year-old is among the members of Australia's 17-man Test squad who will feature in a pink-ball tour game at the SCG against India that begins on Friday.

Swepson, who could potentially play alongside Nathan Lyon in the third Test if the SCG is a spin-friendly pitch but may otherwise struggle to break into the XI, is ready to quickly adapt to a different format.

"Overs out in the middle - red ball or white ball, it doesn't really matter - always help," he said.

"The ball is coming out quite nicely, bar that first (T20) game.

"The experience of running out in this jersey on the international stage has done my bowling the world of good. My confidence is going to benefit from that, just being around the squad and showing myself I can do it at this level.

"And if given an opportunity later in this summer, that's something I can draw on."

The fact that his only game before the four-Test series starts is at the SCG is a handy bonus.

"It's a lovely place to play. Everytime I play here I enjoy it, so I can't wait," Swepson said.

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