Oz spinner McGain may get record for worst Test bowling figures

Oz spinner McGain may get record for worst Test bowling figuresCape Town (South Africa), Mar. 21: Fans at Cape Town''s Newlands ground have given Bryce McGain a new nickname and it''s not a welcome one - Mick Lewis.

McGain''s fellow Victorian infamously took 0-113 in the one-day international in Johannesburg three years ago when South Africa scored 9-438 to win.

Lewis holds the world record for most runs conceded in a one-day innings and McGain''s Test debut was shaping up like a similar shocker after Friday''s second day of the third Test against South Africa.

McGain, also known as cartoon character "Mr Magoo", had figures of 0-102 from 11 overs.

This put the leg-spinner on pace for the world record in a Test innings for worst economy rate (minimum 60 balls).

South Africa reached 3-404 on day two in reply to Australia''s first innings of 209 and McGain was expected to get another opportunity on Saturday to improve his figures.

But it''s fair to say Australia coach Tim Nielsen wasn''t pleased with his initial efforts.

"He didn''t bowl anywhere near as consistently as we would like. He bowled both full and short," Nielsen said on Friday.

"They obviously made a decision I think to attack him pretty hard. So he''s under pressure the whole time and the scoreboard''s ticking over. He can see the numbers going up against his name and I think the pressure just got a bit much today. It was a pretty hard initiation for him in Test-match cricket,” the Daily Telegraph quoted Nielsen, as saying.

With his Ashes hopes badly bruised, McGain wasn''t "bouncing around the change rooms and doing cartwheels" after the second day''s play, Nielsen added.

The coach indicated Australia may have fielded an unchanged side for all three Tests of the series in South Africa if No. 6 batsman Marcus North hadn''t pulled out of the side with a gastro complaint.

Nielsen says McGain "has a bit of learning to do".

"He''s disappointed mostly in the fact that he doesn''t feel as though he bowled as well as he could have," Nielsen added. (ANI)

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