Despite mauling, McGain hopeful for Ashes berth

Melbourne, Mar 26 (ANI): Australian leg spinner Bryce McGain, despite suffering harsh treatment at the hands of South African batsman in his debut Test, is hopeful about his Ashes selection chances.

The Proteas treated the leg spinner with contempt in the third and final Test of the series a few days ago, belting him for 0-149 off only 18 overs.

McGain, always an upbeat character, said he was confident about his bowling when he fronted the media on Wednesday evening upon his return to Melbourne.

"It certainly doesn't knock around my confidence too much in that sometimes this happens in cricket," FOX Sports quoted McGain, as saying.

"Maybe not quite as expensive as that, but there are times you are bowling and it doesn't matter what you try, it seems the batsmen are a page ahead," he added.

McGain said he had spoken to national selector Merv Hughes after the third Test and had received plenty of encouragement from him, but they had not discussed the Ashes.

The problem for McGain is he is unlikely to play any cricket before the Ashes squad is named. His plan is to keep training in Melbourne and if possible pick up some sort of contract with an English county side.

"The way it works is you wait for the selectors to make their decisions ... hopefully I am a part of that but it's out of my hands. I am sure it comes into consideration ... I am still pretty upbeat and positive about what I can do and still believe I can bowl well," McGain said.

McGain added he had reviewed his bowling performance within a couple of days and felt there were only a few things that he could have done differently. (ANI)