Warne's Ashes tip for England leg-spinner

Shane Warne has tipped England leg-spinner Matt Parkinson to make his Test debut this summer and backed him to play a major role in the Vodafone Ashes, saying he is "perfectly suited to Australian conditions".

The 24-year-old Lancashire bowler impressed in the recent one-day series against Pakistan after a COVID-19 outbreak in Eoin Morgan's white-ball squad saw him called upon.

It caught the attention of Warne, in England in his role as head coach of the London Spirit for the Hundred competition, and the legendary leggie claimed Parkinson could even make an impact at the Gabba where Warne recorded career-best figures of 8-71 against England in 1994.

"I think Parkinson is very, very good. I really like the look of the way he bowls and he is a great addition to the white-ball cricket, but also I see him playing a huge part in Test cricket, especially in Australia," Warne said.

"I wouldn't be surprised in that first Test match at the Gabba if he is pencilled in the XI. I think of the Australian conditions, the pace he bowls, the amount of bounce and spin he gets, I think he is perfectly suited to Australian conditions.

"So I think he has a big role to play and he might even play a Test match through the (northern) summer (against India).

"Jack Leach will be the spinner probably to start with for England, but Matty Parkinson might get a gig at the Oval or Manchester, somewhere like that.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they have a look at him during the India series thinking about the Ashes down the track."

While Parkinson is yet to make his Test bow, he averages 23.69 in first-class cricket and has been a regular in Joe Root's touring party over the past couple of years albeit without getting the nod to play.

Earlier in the summer the Bolton-born spinner also earned comparisons with Warne when a delivery against Northamptonshire pitched outside leg stump before it ripped back to hit the top of off stump to dismiss Adam Rossington.

It sparked memories of the 'Ball of the Century' produced by the Australian to Mike Gatting in the first Test of the 1993 Ashes series.

"He is pretty exciting, isn't he? I love watching him," Warne added. "I've been watching him from afar and very impressed so far.

"The good thing is a lot of people would have told him to bowl fast, but he has stuck to being true to himself and what he is good at.

"If I wanted a spinner to bowl fast, they would be called medium-pacers.

"Spin bowlers are spin bowlers because they spin the ball and he does that. If you swing, seam or spin the ball you will be successful no matter what format it is. He definitely does that and I think he bowls a beautiful pace."

Vodafone Men's Ashes v England

Dec 8-12: First Test, The Gabba

Dec 16-20: Second Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 5-9: Fourth Test, SCG

Jan 14-18: Fifth Test, Perth Stadium