Why McGain thinks “very different” Shield seamer O’Neill has real Test potential

Victoria’s Fergus O’Neill isn’t your typical Sheffield Shield opening bowler.

While most new-ball seamers in Australian domestic cricket are often tall and try and bowl at rapid paces, O’Neill’s a truly different breed.

The 23-year-old instead relies on skill and movement, with many considering his bowling medium-fast, but that doesn’t stop him from taking the biggest scalps.

The Victorian took figures of 4/29 from 17 overs in New South Wales’ first innings at the MCG on Monday which impressed former Test spinner Bryce McGain.

All four of his scalps came in the form of Australian representatives in Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon and McGain was impressed with last season’s Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year’s ability to constantly pick at the opposition’s defence.

“I don't know how many times Steve Smith will be facing a new ball with an opening bowler like him,” McGain said on SEN Whateley.

“But that is the difficulty of Fergus O'Neill, the Victorian medium pacer who, at will, can swing the ball both ways and seam it both directions.

“He keeps challenging that forward defence. He really picks apart batting techniques.”

Leading into the game against NSW, O’Neill had taken 69 First Class wickets at an average of 20.91, which was enough for him to earn a call-up into the Australia A squad to face India A.

While he’s unlike most bowlers at the international level, McGain would love to see O’Neill given a real chance for Australia A to try and prove himself to Aussie selectors.

“He gets his opportunity for Australia A and I hope he gets to play both of those games because in all conditions he is a real handful,” McGain said.

“That’s not only flat wickets where you can set particular fields and he'll challenge that forward defence, but at the MCG, I've seen him follow some incredible spells. 

“He was absolutely brilliant on Monday and he just doesn't bowl a loose ball. 

“His opening spell was 10 overs and had the figures of 2/11, they just couldn’t get him away, and he had five maidens in there.

“At the end, he had 4/29 off 17 overs and he bowls medium pace. This guy is highly skilled, he’s next level and he's something different to domestic cricket compared to the six-foot-five bowlers who smash the wicket at 140 km/h.

“This guy is very different and he's very, very good.”

O'Neill wrapped up his performance in the win over NSW with 1/28 in the second innings and was named Man of the Match.

Australia A play India A in a two-match series with games in Mackay and Melbourne ahead of the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy.