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Swepson to rip it in India

Cape Town - Uncapped spinner Mitchell Swepson is eager to state that he hasn't modelled his bowling action on any other bowler and doesn't want to be compared to Shane Warne.

Swepson is one of four spinners Australia have selected for the tour along with Nathan Lyon, Steve O'Keefe and Ashton Agar and he has been tipped for success by Warne himself.

The young spinner told the media after the squad was announced at the MCG: "I never really modelled my bowling on anyone.

"I have looked at footage from Shane Warne bowling but more as a fan. I love watching that sort of thing, I love watching videos of Brett Lee bowling 160kph.

"I see myself as a standard leggie who likes to rip the ball. I've always been taught since I was a youngster bowling legspin to give the ball a good rip. 

"You'll go for a few runs, you'll bowl some pump, but if you give yourself a chance to spin the ball hard and get the ball to talk through the air that's how you'll get your wickets. 

"That's how I go about it. I know I'll go for runs and bowl some poor balls, but if I get the wickets that's what I'm looking for."

Swepson admits that his first experiences in Shield cricket came a little too early and recalls feeling like he had been thrown in the deep end.

He said: "When I first got picked for the Shield team I didn't think I was ready, sort of got thrown in the deep end there.

"Same thing when I made my BBL debut I didn't think I was ready.

"But it's part of the game, if you get the opportunity it's about taking it. 

"I wasn't expecting to be in a Test squad touring India, but it's gone well for me being thrown in the deep end so far in my short career, so I'm really looking forward to any opportunity I can get over there and hopefully grab it with two hands."

Swepson understands that he will have to adapt the way he bowls in India in order to achieve success, saying: "There's a lot to the way you have to go about your bowling over there.

"It's a lot different to bowling here in Australia, you've got to have your wits about you, got to have variation, change of pace, you've got to do a lot of things differently. 

"I feel like the fact I've been over there and tested the waters a bit will help me to hit the ground running.

"I take it as a challenge as a legspinner. Any cricketer should want to challenge themselves against the best; looking ahead to India in India against players like Virat Kohli, the best players of spin in the world, what better challenge could you want? 

"It'll be awesome to go over there and test yourself against the toughest opponents."

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (C),David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O’Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

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