Beau regards his Test chances

Beau Casson, the New South Wales left-arm wrist-spinner, must be counting the days until Australia's selectors announce the Test squad to tour the West Indies in May. Stuart MacGill's successful return at the end of the domestic season means he will be the first slow bowler chosen but Casson is firming as a possible back-up.

Casson, 25, bowled unchanged in the second innings of the Blues' Pura Cup final win and was halfway through his 30th over when he grabbed the match-winning wicket. His four for the game left him with a season tally of 29 at 35.13, which was nine fewer than the selectors' other main option Bryce McGain, the Victoria legspinner who is 36 and played two more matches than Casson this summer.

"It's very flattering when someone mentions that you are in the frame, and that's the main reason I came out here [to Sydney]," Casson told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I thought it was the best place to develop my craft. I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. Spinners do tend to mature a lot later, it is just the nature of what we do."

Casson's move from Western Australia before 2006-07 initially looked questionable after he struggled through last summer with little impact. However, MacGill's wrist surgery opened a door for him this season and after the prolific Doug Bollinger broke his foot late in the campaign, more wickets were suddenly up for grabs.

"It was quite tough early on," Casson said. "With our quicks going so well, the likes of Doug Bollinger killing it, there weren't many chances to have long spells and develop some sort of rhythm."

The retirements of Shane Warne in 2006-07 and Brad Hogg in 2007-08 have left the selectors with few slow-bowling options - MacGill, McGain, Casson and Dan Cullen are the most likely choices. Regardless of who is picked the squad for the Caribbean trip will feature at least one man preparing for a Test debut, with Brad Haddin set to replace Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps.