McGain seeks Warne's advice on India

As Bryce McGain strolled towards Cricket Australia's Melbourne headquarters on Friday it was hard to know who was more excited about his Test call-up, the legspinner himself or his eight-year-old son Liam. McGain was smiling but suitably restrained; Liam was powering along the footpath and replicating his father's legbreak action, with an extra couple of flourishes.

There will be nothing imaginary about McGain's task next month when he is almost certain to make his Test debut in India at 36. But for the time being, day-to-day life continues and he was unable to speak to the media until after he had picked up Liam from school. It had already been a big day after an early morning phone call told McGain he was a chance for a baggy green.

"It was around breakfast time, Liam was smiling and so excited," McGain said. "We hugged and jumped around a bit in the lounge room. I put the cornflakes and toast on hold and said we're going out to a café to celebrate."

McGain was still recovering from the flight home from India, having picked up three wickets in an Australia A match against India A in Bangalore, where the first Test will take place from October 9. He also collected a minor shoulder problem, although he is certain it will not keep him from touring with the senior squad.

"It was good bowling at Bangalore and understanding the conditions," McGain said. "I certainly went over there with a bit of a plan after talking to Shane Warne before I went over and it seemed to be quite successful.

"It was a bit of a shame just getting a bit of a [shoulder] niggle but I'll be over that and bowling again by the end of the week. I'm looking forward to putting those plans in play hopefully in the first Test."

McGain will speak to Warne again before departing on September 21, although he already knows that India's batsmen will aim to pound him into submission. Seventeen overs for Australia A is limited preparation but with two warm-up games before the first Test and 15 years of club cricket under his belt, McGain is confident he can step up.

"There was no mistaking that in the A game they went out to have a crack at all the spinners and really went aggressively at every ball I bowled," he said. "It was good to put them quickly on the back foot by getting three early wickets, three of the first four wickets in the game. Hopefully that'll continue when I play for Australia."

He might not have meant to use the word "when", although it is hard to see what will keep him from a Test spot in a squad that also includes the Tasmania offspinner Jason Krejza. One of the surprises in Australia's selection was the omission of the left-arm wrist-spinner Beau Casson, 25, who made his Test debut in Barbados in June.

Luck was on Casson's side in the Caribbean when he was in the right place at the right time - the moment when Stuart MacGill retired unexpectedly. However, fortune went against him last week when he bowled just one over for Australia A after slipping in the outfield and suffering a hamstring strain. The injury was not the reason he was overlooked for the Test squad but McGain expects Casson to be back in the Test mix at some point.

"He's a good young spinner and there's a lot of years ahead of him, if they're picking me at 36," McGain said. "He's got 11 years to catch me at that age. He is a very good spinner and learns very quickly so no doubt there's more opportunities for him in the future."

If McGain plays a Test in India he will become Australia's oldest debutant since Bob Holland in 1984-85. Greg Shipperd, the Victoria coach, said age should not be held against McGain, who this time last year was working for a bank. Shipperd compared him to another former Victoria slow bowler who made his mark in Test cricket late.

"His consistency reminded me of someone like Colin Miller, for example, that came out of the blue and was into that level of competition and performed brilliantly from ball one," Shipperd said. "No doubt that he's got some good years ahead of him."