Ranks of mapping tori via the curve complex (Q667998)

Let $\phi: S\to S$ be a homeomorphism of a closed orientable surface $S$ of genus $g$. The 3-dimensional manifold $M_{\phi}=S\times [0,1] ~/~ (x,0)\sim (\phi (x),1)$ is called a mapping torus of $\phi$. The minimal number of elements needed to generate the fundamental group of $M_{\phi}$ is called the rank of $\pi_1 M_{\phi}$. The main result of the paper under review says that if $\phi$ has a large translation distance in the curve complex, then $\text{rank} ~(\pi_1 M_{\phi})=2g+1$. The result has applications for random walks on the mapping class group of $S$.