McGain prepared to shoulder spin responsibilities

Bryce McGain, the Victoria legspinner, is back to 100% after shoulder surgery and is hoping to be in the Australian selectors' plans for the South Africa tour. Andrew Hilditch and his fellow decision makers will meet on Wednesday and McGain seems certain to be part of the squad following his five wickets in the second innings of Victoria's Sheffield Shield win on Monday.

McGain, 36, was on the tour of India but returned home for shoulder surgery before the Test series. Since then Australia have tried Cameron White, Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz without finding an answer to their spin problems.

"I'm feeling great, the shoulder's fine," McGain told the Age. "I've never had any issues since I've been back bowling. I'm back to 100%. Probably the legs are a bit heavy, and the feet, after being in the field for a while, but the shoulder and arm is fine."

McGain is confident his bowling will cope on South African pitches, which he feels are similar to Australia's. "There's an element of understanding that there's different conditions in Australia, like the WACA is different to the SCG and the MCG, so you have to have a variable game plan," McGain said. "I think I've got that, quite well.

"I can lock-up an end if required or bowl attackingly. I'm confident in my ability if the wickets are a little bit different, I'm confident I can do what's required." McGain, who has nominated for Friday's Indian Premier League auction and has a US$50,000 reserve, appeared in three Twenty20 matches for Victoria before the Shield game against South Australia.