Steve O’Keefe will return to the Australian side for the last Test of the series against the West Indies, beginning tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
O’Keefe replaces Peter Siddle, who is sitting out the match due to an ankle that skipper Steve Smith said “still isn’t 100 per cent”.
“He felt it wasn’t best for him to come into this Test match the way he is at the moment,” the skipper said.
“He’s a great team man and felt he would be letting the team down [if he played].
“We were probably going to go the two spinners option anyway.”
O’Keefe played his one and only Test match against Pakistan in Dubai in 2014, taking four wickets in a match Australia lost by 221 runs.
It’ll be the first time since 2006 that Australia has played two spinners in a Test match on home soil, and O’Keefe, working alongside Nathan Lyon, will be hoping to make it count after years of disappointment despite excellent domestic form.
“They have bowled well together,” said Smith.
“Hopefully they can do that this week and he [O’Keefe] can press claims for the Sri Lankan tour.
“He has got an opportunity now to become the second spinner.
“Hopefully the guys can get some purchase out of it.”
There are no other changes to the side that has dominated the West Indies in this series, winning the Hobart Test in three days and the MCG Test in four.
Shaun Marsh is still out of the side, despite putting together a dominant knock for the Perth Scorchers earlier this week.
With a 2-0 lead in hand, the last Test in the series is effectively a dead rubber. However, Australia will be very happy to pursue a whitewash.
Australia XI: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.
Don Freo
Guest
Especially if their performances are monitored by averages alone...as they are by so many regular Roar posters.
Chris Love
Guest
I would imagine that Warner and Co would be absolutely filthy if they did that. Spelling players with big workloads is one thing but no one that is fully fit is going to want to miss a test for both financial and for overall batting/average purposes.
Don Freo
Guest
Probably because he is on everyone's lips.
AlanKC
Guest
And just listen to the outcry from people attending the test (at inflated prices) who feel they were robbed of seeing the "stars". It's happened before and it would again.
DT in London
Guest
Agree - what a weird and unnecessary line to include. He's obviously released form the squad if he just played Big Bash!
Andy
Guest
Im not saying gift them, im saying that give the guy under Warner a go at the top with Burns or similar. This just seems like a great chance to look towards the next year and see how guys who are in the squad but dont regularly play will handle themselves, as opposed to having them play their 4th,5th test at 1-1 in the Ashes or against India away or NZ soon. And come on Beer has a cap because of his name, like 80% his name, 10% cause Warne likes him and 10% him.
VivGilchrist
Guest
... and gift out Test caps? Objects lose there value when they are given out freely.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Why mention Shaun Marsh, he wasn't going to be picked.
Andy
Guest
Why are so many established guys playing this dead rubber? I dont see why warner and smith especially are playing, or even lyon. None of them need the run out, why not have a look how guys under them play incase one of them get injured anytime.
Mr Bean
Guest
I say we pick Ahmed as second spinner for all test series on the subcontinent, as he has experienced playing there, but we pick okeefe for all test series elsewhere
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good to see O'Keefe get a run, rate his game. Let's hope the SCG offers something for him and Lyon.