Spin session with Warne inspired McGain

Melbourne:

Australia leg-spinning novice Bryce McGain today revealed that it was a recent bowling session with legendary spinner Shane Warne that helped him prepare for the four-Test series in India starting next month.

36-year-old McGain, who was included in the 15-member squad that tours India, will lead the Australian spin attack along with Tasmanian off-spinner Jason Krejza.

McGain said a recent bowling stint with Warne at the MCG indoor nets a month ago helped him to gain some invaluable inputs.

McGain said he tried out the tips given by Warne during the just-completed Australia 'A' tour of India and claimed three early Indian wickets before rain ruined two-match series.

"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.

"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 on some of his experiences," McGain was quoted as saying in The Australian.

"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," he added.

Although McGain didn't reveal any of the technical details that the legendary spinner passed on to him, he said that Warne had prepared him fully for facing the strong Indian batsmen in the upcoming tour.

"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 McGain gets a chance to play against India, he will be the oldest Australian since fellow leggie Bob Holland to make a debut. Holland played his first Test at the age of 38 in 1984.