Australian great Shane Warne has called on Test selectors to pick uncapped Mitchell Swepson as a second spin option during the series against New Zealand.
Warne declared Swepson the nation's next best spin-bowling option behind established star Nathan Lyon and said the pair could play together in the third Test in Sydney.
Warne's call comes amid growing concern for the lack of depth of Australia's spin stocks, with 14 tweakers used at Test level since Warne's retirement in 2007.
Only Lyon and fellow offspinner Nathan Hauritz have managed to spend significant amounts of time in the Australian team since the Victorian leg-spin legend's career came to an end.
There is currently no clear second option behind Lyon.
Warne tipped Swepson to make his Test debut within six months and implored selectors to consider the 26-year-old legspinner sooner rather than later.
"Swepson, to me, has elevated himself already this year," Warne said.
"If something happened to Nathan Lyon, I think Mitchell Swepson would probably come into the side.
"No disrespect to (Ashton) Agar and all those guys. Those guys could come in and they'd do a very good job.
"But I'd like to see us pick a wrist spinner, an attacking option, not a safe option with a finger spinner."
Swepson, who has one T20 international appearance under his belt, has taken 12 wickets at 26.58 in four Sheffield Shield matches for Queensland this season.
His record includes impressive match figures of 7-92 in a win over Victoria at the MCG in November and 2-107 against NSW at the SCG this month.
Veteran former Test left-armer Steve O'Keefe (NSW) is the only spin bowler with more Shield wickets (14 at 18.42) than Swepson this season.
Warne said it was up to state selectors to ensure the next wave of spin bowlers were given opportunities to develop into capable Test players.
"If anything happens to Nathan Lyon we're in real trouble because he's so good, but I think we've got to look at these next spinners," he said.
"It's up to each of the state sides to play these young spinners in Sheffield Shield games so they get used to bowling in all conditions.
"The spinners in all states have to have exposure to the different conditions and the states have to remember that they're not just there for the betterment of their own state.
"They're there for the betterment of Australian cricket, so they've got to encourage these young spinners."
Lyon is the only spin bowler named in Australia's squad for the Boxing Day Test against the Black Caps at the MCG.
Australian Associated Press
