Victorian leg-spinner Bryce McGain believes he can be more than just a stop-gap option to fill the spin vacancy in the Australian Test side.
At an age when most first-class cricketers either retire or are shown the door, McGain, who turned 36 earlier this year, has intentions to play into the 2010-11 Australian summer.
"I plan to not just hang around for one or two years, I plan to prepare myself for beyond that," McGain said on Thursday after being named in a 14-man Australia A squad to tour India.
"And that's physically, as well as my game an improving all those aspects. And I think I've got a bit of longevity so it's not just a short-term fix. I think it could be a long-term option as well."
McGain's selection for the September 3-26 tour, which he celebrated with dinner with three highschool friends, was reassurance he was still in the minds of Andrew Hilditch and co. after missing out on the tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.
"It probably still indicates it's still open in terms of selection. And I guess that goes with every selection," McGain said. "Opportunities always bob up because of injuries and retirement."
Also selected for Australia A were Beau Casson and Jason Krejza, McGain's two rivals to fill the void left by the retirements of Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg in the past two years.
Casson, 25, at this stage, appears to have the inside running for the Test berth after being picked for Australia's Test tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.
Another trip with the senior side to India for the four-Test series in October and November for McGain could hinge on his performances in the two three-day and four one-dayers with the 'A' side next month.
"I guess this is the opportunity. You can't do it running around the Tan in the middle of winter in Melbourne," McGain said.
"You can do it when you get an opportunity to play cricket in India."
Hitherto, all McGain's knowledge of cricket in India has been gleaned from the box though he has since spoken to several players since learning of his selection.
The squad, to be mentored by Cricket Victoria High Performance Academy coach Simon Helmot, will have a training camp starting on Sunday in Brisbane before flying to Bangalore the following Thursday.