SYDNEY, July 21: Terry Jenner believes 36-year-old Stuart MacGill must assume Shane Warne's place in the Australian team to allow budding spinners Cullen Bailey and Dan Cullen time to develop.
“I personally think that MacGill is singularly the most influential player in the immediate future because we want the young blokes, for example Bailey and Cullen, to have a bit more time," Jenner told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Jenner, who has taken the promising pair under his wing, was speaking after they were picked along with MacGill and Cameron White in the Australia ‘A’ team to tour Pakistan in September.
“Think about Warne, he wasn't up to it at 22. Patience is the key, and if the opportunities arise 12 or 18 months from now, they will be better equipped to take advantage of them.”
Jenner, who was so vital to Warne's success over the years, was similarly cautious in May when Bailey was handed a contract by Cricket Australia.
Meanwhile, former Test batsman Darren Lehmann holds no fears for Cullen and Bailey if they are thrown into Tests against the batting might of India in January.
Lehmann is confident his South Australian team-mates can cope against India's intimidating batting line-up.
“It would be a great learning curve for them,” he said. “Indian batsmen play spin well, but they don't traditionally play spin that well in Australia. It would be more making sure Bailey and Cullen are ready. They are both ahead of the game and where they want to be.”
South Australia are due to play six Pura Cup matches before Christmas and Lehmann said it would be enough time to “see if they're ready to play Test cricket”.
“Then it will be a question of balance if Australia want a second spinner,” he said. “It depends whether they want to play two leggies or a leggie and an offie.”
Bailey, who has bowled in 17 first-class games, was elevated suddenly due to Warne's retirement while Cullen retained his spot after making his debut against Bangladesh in 2006. They will both have opportunities to learn from MacGill, who took 15 wickets the last time Australia went to Pakistan in 1998-99, on the Australia ‘A’ trip.
Lehmann is excited MacGill will have ‘free reign’ after being stuck behind Warne for most of his career.
“He'll do really well and now has a chance to play a lot for Australia,” he said. “It's the place for the other guys to be ready if there's an injury or whatever might happen. It's a pretty hectic schedule over the next year and in that time they're going to have a turnover for injury and form.”—Agencies