Australian cricket great Shane Warne says Test selectors should look beyond the “safety option” of Steve O’Keefe as a second spin option at the SCG.
O’Keefe and fellow left-arm spinner Ashton Agar were both included in Australia’s 13-man squad for Tuesday’s third Test against Pakistan, with batsman Nic Maddinson and seamer Chadd Sayers making way.
The pair are set to fight it out to line up alongside offspinner Nathan Lyon, who shrugged off his recent criticsim of his bowling with a crucial three-wicket spell to help Australia claim an unlikely victory in the Boxing Day Test.
With the hosts wrapping up a 2-0 series win with their last-gasp triumph in Melbourne, the dead-rubber in Sydney shapes as an audition for the spinners ahead of February’s tour of India.
O’Keefe, who showed promise during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka before injuring his hamstring, is well-placed to earn selection at his home ground.
But Warne, Australia’s greatest spinner with 708 Test wickets, says Agar’s ability to unleash serious turn and flight should place him at the top of the queue.
“I think he is the best spinner worth a try,” Warne said on Friday in the Nine Network commentary box.
“I think O’Keefe is more of a white ball specialist. I don’t think he’s a red ball player. I know he bowls very economically and he’s a good cricketer but I think he’s a lot better suited to white-ball cricket.
“I would like to see us develop somebody in the Test match arena like an Agar and persist with someone like him. I think O’Keefe is just a safety option.”
O’Keefe’s first-class record of 218 wickets at 23.64 suggests Warne’s assessment of the 32-year-old was somewhat harsh.
Either way, Australia coach Darren Lehmann’s belief that Agar has the potential to be a genuine allrounder may be enough to tip the balance in his favour.
The 23-year-old famously scored 98 on his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge in the 2013 Ashes and has a first-class batting average of 26.41 compared to O’Keefe’s 11.00.
“He’s made Shield hundreds and obviously batted well in that Test match at No.11,” Lehmann said on Friday.
“He’s certainly got the talent to be a batting allrounder or a spinning allrounder, either way.”
Don Freo
Guest
Abrasive character, SOK, isn't he? Also contradictory... He also said that Warne was his hero and he wouldn't say anything critical of him. Did you make up your comment, Armchair?
Armchair Expert
Guest
SOK was asked about Warne in an interview a few years ago after playing against him in a big bash game and replied "all the crap he talks"!
Armchair Expert
Guest
That 11 was a mix up between test and 1st class averages.
qwetzen
Guest
An " unbiased “expert” commentator". That's a seriously good idea. Maybe Nein could try it one day?
Stuart
Guest
O'Keefe comes from NSW, Steve Waugh comes from NSW, Waugh hurt Warne's feelings in the West Indies, ergo O'Keefe shouldn't get a gig at the SCG Test.Warne's juvenile bagging of Waugh which came to a head yesterday with Warne claiming (erroneously) that Waugh was biased in favour of fast bowlers taints his standing as an unbiased "expert" commentator,which was already on the skids after his shabby efforts during and just after the one day World Cup in 2015.Warnie, you are indeed a great of the game,but as a commentator Joe the cameraman would probably say "can't talk,shouldn't talk ".
Basil
Guest
Warne is no longer playing. I am merely disagreeing with Warne. You agree with Warne because of your ongoing dislike of OKeefe.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Don't mind Warney but man he goes on. Yesterday he was banging on about continuing with Lyon ( fair point ) but went on to lament Smith, Ponting snd Waugh as fast bowling captains. Old mate and Warney's best captain ever Tubby was co commentating and was no help. In the SOK chat, Slats belatedly mentioned SOK's excellent FC record but the great guru had spoken.
Jameswm
Guest
I agree Warnie, don't go with the "safe" option - the one you know will do well. Go with the one who might go poorly.
qwetzen
Guest
Maybe SKW deducted points for Waughs' selfishness & dubious claiming of catches? Whereas Warnes' greatest vendetta isn't defensible at all. His relentless, on-going sniping at John Buchanan is disgraceful. Fancy whinging about a coach who wanted to make one of his charges fitter. Intellectually Warne doesn't come up to Buck's knees and it is to Bucks great credit that he completely ignores the yob.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Haha this list is gold. Other gems include Waqar Younis at 45, behind such legends as Steve Harmison and Michael Atherton, as well as Darren Berry and Jamie Siddons rounding out the top 50 with a grand total of one international game between them.
Mike Dugg
Guest
O'Keefe has a first class average of 29.
Aransan
Guest
Lyon will continue to be undermined until O'Keefe is given a good run in tests. Five tests should be sufficient to show that he can't cut it, the only question that will then remain is whether permanent damage has been done to Lyon.
JGK
Roar Guru
Par for the course for Warne. Logic rarely comes into his "selections". Warne will have you believe that Stephen Fleming was a better cricketer than Steve Waugh. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/309178.html
Mahee Hossain
Guest
Did SOK murder Warne's cat or something? Warne has a huge bias against him.
Don Freo
Guest
...but your personal bias against Warne is ok?
blanco
Guest
I understand now why O'Keefe has played so little despite his amazing record. It is that he is not liked and it has very little to do with performance. I lots respect for Shane Warne when that garbage came out of his mouth.
Basil
Guest
No surprise. Warne using his influence to push personal bias. Michael Beer anyone?
Ian
Guest
O'Keefe's first class batting average is 29 not 11, so he trumps Agar on both fronts on performance to date.