O'Keefe and Sayers push Test cases for Australia A

Injuries to frontline quicks Ryan Harris, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird mean Australia may blood a rookie paceman on the Test tour against Pakistan in October.

In an expected 15-man squad for that tour, Australia will likely select four fast bowlers in addition to two specialist spinners.

Injury forced NSW spinner Steve O’Keefe to wait until the last of Australia A’s four recent first-class matches against India A and South Africa A to get a run.

But he firmed as the likely backup tweaker to Nathan Lyon against Pakistan by bowling accurately on a flat wicket, taking 2-75 from 29 overs in the ongoing match against South Africa A.

Firebrand Mitchell Johnson is the only quick locked in for the Pakistan series, although experienced first-changer Peter Siddle and young left armer Mitchell Starc are probable inclusions.

The final pace spot, however, is a mystery. Over the past month a host of emerging Aussie fast bowlers have been auditioning for the tour as part of Australia A’s games.

With the final match of that carnival finishing today, and no further first-class matches for Aussie players between now and the Pakistan tour, we have a clearer idea of who are the main contenders to join Johnson and co in the UAE.

Australia A have used New South Wales youngster Gurinder Sandhu, South Australian swing merchant Chadd Sayers, blossoming West Australian Jason Behrendorff, Tasmanian bowling all-rounder James Faulkner, Queensland pair Ben Cutting and Michael Neser and Victorian veteran Clint McKay.

Of those seven quicks, only Neser and McKay appear to be no chance of making Australia’s next Test squad. Let’s analyse the contenders.

1. Chadd Sayers (26 years old). First-class record – 117 wickets at an average of 24
On a horses-for-courses basis, Sayers is probably the best pick of these five bowlers. Pitches in the UAE are typically dry and lifeless, ensuring hard yakka for Test quicks. Sayers has built his career on overcoming the monotonously flat Adelaide Oval surface to tear into batting line-ups.

With Johnson, Starc and the two specialist spinners to provide plenty of strike power in similar conditions in the UAE, the selectors may well want the final paceman selected in the squad to be a steady type capable of tying up one end. Sayers suits that role perfectly. He enhanced his prospects by being Australia A’s leading wicket taker in the two first-class matches against India A, snaring eight wickets at 29 on unresponsive surfaces.

2. James Faulkner (24 years old). First-class record – 124 wickets at 24
Unlike Sayers, Faulkner may have harmed his chances of touring against Pakistan with an ineffective display in those same two matches. He was economical but failed to take a wicket from his 28 overs. Faulkner did underline his promise with the bat, making a career-high 94.

But with Glenn Maxwell likely to take the back-up all-rounder spot for the Test tour, Faulkner probably needs to earn his selection as a specialist quick. His eclectic mix of swing, cutters and slower balls makes him an attractive proposition on the UAE’s limp pitches. The previous selection panel made it clear they viewed Faulkner as an all-rounder, not a frontline paceman, despite his stellar bowling record. He must hope the new panel form a different view.

3. Ben Cutting (27 years old). First-class record – 143 wickets at 27
Cutting, in all likelihood, will be competing with Starc to be Australia’s second strike paceman after Johnson. It would be a surprise were Australia to pick three ultra-aggressive fast bowlers in their squad considering the expected flat decks.

Cutting is a proven wicket taker but in searching for breakthroughs he regularly proves expensive. This was again highlighted in his two matches against India A when he had the second-best strike rate of any Aussie bowler, after Sayers, but leaked 3.8 runs per over. He should be at long odds to make the Pakistan tour.

4. Gurinder Sandhu (21 years old). First-class record – 30 wickets at 25
The Australian selectors have not been shy of parachuting inexperienced quicks into the Test side in recent years. The likes of Pat Cummins, Pattinson and Starc all made Test debuts with just a limited first-class background.

Sandhu has highlighted his significant gifts by being Australia A’s most incisive quick in the two first-class matches against South Africa A. The 194-centimetre right armer had the brilliant figures of 11 overs, 3-15 at one point in the first innings of the second match, showcasing his accuracy and guile. That came after he was the only Aussie bowler not to be either flayed or blunted in the first match as South Africa A churned out 8-532. Sandhu claimed 4-77 and demonstrated an admirable ability to remain effective when the opposition was on the charge.

5. Jason Behrendorff (24 years old). First-class record – 63 wickets at 25
Behrendorff grabbed the attention of the selectors with a breakout Sheffield Shield season last summer, finishing with 40 wickets at 23 to trail only NSW spinner Steve O’Keefe as the leading wicket taker in the competition.

He has had only one opportunity for Australia A in the recent matches, taking 0-68 in the first innings of the most recent match against South Africa A. Like Cutting and Sandhu, Berhrendorff looks a long shot for the Pakistan tour, particularly with two fellow left arm quicks in Johnson and Starc likely to be on the plane.