Casson distraught after snub

All-rounder Andrew Symonds was not selected for the four-Test series and must instead undergo a counselling process to convince Cricket Australia he is committed to the team before he can be considered. McGain, two years younger than retired great Shane Warne, is expected to make his Test debut in the sub-continent next month while Tasmanian Jason Krejza was the shock second-choice spin option ahead of 25-year-old Casson, who debuted in Bridgetown in June with three wickets.

Casson, the only CA-contracted spin specialist, was too upset to talk yesterday but told his state coach, Matthew Mott, that he was determined to fight his way back.

Former Blues spinner Krejza was en route to Hobart from India yesterday after touring with the Australia A side, of which Casson and McGain were also a part of. The latter pair suffered injuries in India, but there was no suggestion Casson's groin injury played any part in his snubbing - he told Mott he could play next week if necessary.

Casson also sought the advice of NSW captain Simon Katich, who forced his way back into the Test arena for the Caribbean tour after it seemed his international career had stalled two years earlier. A bewildered Mott told the Herald after speaking with Casson: "It's a very hard pill to swallow. He didn't presume anything but everything was telling us he'd be in the squad. He would be inhuman if he wasn't upset.

"The feedback from everyone has been that he has done very well, so I don't know what has transpired. It is a bit hard for him to comprehend. It's not as though he played his way out of the side, he had one Test, he was given an opportunity and seemed to grasp it pretty well."

Mott added that McGain was a deserving tourist based on his impressive performances in last year's shield competition but, like many, wondered whether he presented a stop-gap solution to Australia's obvious spin woes.

Even McGain was willing to joke about his selection.

"He [Casson] is a good young spinner and there are a lot of years ahead of him. If they are picking me at 36 he's got 11 years to catch me," McGain said. "He learns very quickly so I have no doubt there will be more opportunities for him in the future."

Casson has struggled with self-confidence in the past but Mott said he was "very philosophical" about his omission.

"In the past he has got a bit down over these sorts of things. He is not kicking cans around and that is a good sign for Beau, it's certainly an area he has improved in," Mott said. "There is no point dwelling on it too much. He has already come to terms with it, while he doesn't agree with the decision he sees this as a minor setback. You don't have to be Einstein to realise that Bryce won't be there forever because of his age. He had a good chat to Kat, he is quite inspired by the way Kat came back into the side."

CA's national selection panel chairman, Andrew Hilditch, expected Australia's pace bowlers to do most of the damage anyway.

"It'll depend on conditions, they are spinner friendly, but when we won there last time [in 2004] we won because of our quick bowlers and we think it'll be the same this time," Hilditch said. "We can rely on them [the pace bowlers], they'll do a really good job, even when Shane Warne was there the quicks predominantly did the job, although Shane bowled really well and kept up a lot of pressure."

Casson could be recalled for the home series against New Zealand and South Africa this summer. With Symonds missing, Shane Watson is expected to win the No.6 batting role. Victorian paceman Peter Siddle was another surprise addition to the squad, beating out Ashley Noffke. THE SQUAD Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Bryce McGain, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.