Spin it however you like, Stephen O’Keefe was the hero in Pune. His match figures of 12/70, the best by an Aussie spinner in India.
It’s a feel good storyline to savour out of one of Australia’s greatest ever wins away from home.
For those who know nothing about O’Keefe, you’d have been surprised to see a harmless looking left-arm-orthodox bamboozling Virat Kohli among others.
For those who know a little about him, it might have all been a bit of a shock.
For those that have followed O’Keefe’s career closely, you’d have felt pride and immense delight to see the boy from Manly make his mark on Test cricket.
The 32-year-old isn’t perfect – he’ll readily admits he doesn’t mind a beer – after all it’s always been a part of cricket.
But boy, he’s a hard worker at his craft, and that’s why he’s been afforded a bit of latitude, and he’s now repaying the faith at the highest level.
Let’s rewind.
After the Hobart calamity earlier in the summer, O’Keefe most likely would’ve replaced Nathan Lyon for the third Test, after an anaemic display in Tassie.
A calf injury put paid to that.
Before that, a hamstring injury to O’Keefe in Sri Lanka stuffed up a real chance to shine.
Then the spinner got whacked with a $10k fine for a boozy night out.
Prior to that, a tour of Bangladesh was canned. That wasn’t ideal either, as ‘SOK’ would’ve been on that trip.
Twelve years of toil in first class cricket has yielded 237 wickets at a tick under 23.
No Aussie spinner can hold a candle, lantern or match to that record in the last decade.
But things weren’t going his way.
He wasn’t a sexy spinner.
He didn’t turn it big, get heaps of drift or bounce.
In his way is Australia’s best ever finger spinner in Nathan Lyon.
Before his time, Shane Warne, Australia’s finest cricketer bar Bradman, and the spinner that every Aussie tweaker will be compared to for the rest of eternity.
Weight of numbers just wasn’t working for O’Keefe, and luck had deserted him.
A debut against Pakistan in the UAE returned modest results, and Australia lost.
A Test appearance in Sydney was ruined by rain as the Aussies flogged the West Indies. Injured during a Test in Sri Lanka.
The Hobart debacle almost might have earned him a chance as spinner number one, but for injury.
But something happened. Trevor Hohns happened.
The interim chairman of selectors picked players in form.
Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Jackson Bird profited.
In the News Year’s Test O’Keefe got a look in against Pakistan, contributing to a win.
Hohns then instructed O’Keefe to skip the BBL, and focus on India, wickets for Manly followed, because that’s what he does.
He contains, strangles, out-thinks, and ultimately gets batsmen out.
So on a dust bowl in Pune, bowling to the best players of spin in the world, O’Keefe did his thing.
Put the ball in areas batsmen don’t like. Every over. Every ball.
Varied his pace, his trajectory and arm position.
And we watched India crumble.
We watched King Kohli shoulder arms and saw the ball crash into off-stump.
Well done Stephen O’Keefe.
You’re a national hero, at least until this Saturday, when you’ll get a chance to do it all again.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Don't know how you could possibly consider O'Keefe a one match wonder. He's been the best performing spinner in the Sheffield Shield, playing on pitches that offer far less assistance, year in, year out for a long time. He has got more wickets than Lyon in basically every match they've played together. He was bowling really well in the first test in Sri Lanka and when he got injured that pretty much was the turning point of the series as no other spinners could even keep it tight. There are plenty of reasons to expect O'Keefe should continue to be Australia's best spinner.
Brett hayes
Guest
As much as I loved his performance and as much as I hate to say this but I am going to put my neck on the line and say that sok will be flogged in Bangalore , offcourse unless it's a another raging bunsen. My analysis 1.he turned the ball least that's why got the edges 2. Indian batsmen didn't rate him and went after him in 1st gig and paid the price. 3.In the second innings they pretty much threw in the towel and also playing on that deck on day 3 was impossible. 4.lyon was unlucky , he could have picked more wickets than sok, actually in my opinion he bowled better, but again my point the spinner who turned the ball least got most wickets, others just beat the bat. Why he will be flogged in upcoming matches. 1. He was not turning the ball much in Pune on a bunsen, he has never turned the ball much in his career ,On good pitches which only turn a little on first 3 days he will not get any hence will be played easily. 2. He doesn't have any varieties other than bowling accurately when pitch doesn't help him. 3. Indian batsmen will be much more careful and respectful and milk him for his first couple of spells and once they feel set might go after him in his third or fourth spell, under pressure he might crumble. 4.I have seen many one match wonders in the past only to be not to seen again ever and I don't know why but O'Keefe doesn't convince me at all that he is that good. I am happy to be proved wrong and if I am proved wrong in this series then I will be happy to apologize and will give him his due credit(not that he needs any from me). So what you say, any different suggestions you got, what's your take on Sok.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Great performance by SOK and a nomination for best supporting bowler goes to Nathan Lyon. It will be interesting to see what approach the Indian batsmen take to O'Keefe in the next test. One thing will be certain. They will have a greater respect for his ability to bowl where batsmen don't like it. Lyon looked far more comfortable without the pressure of being the "go to' spinner in this game. Well done Steve Smith for not following the Michael Clarke/ Shane Warne bowl Lyon at all costs mindset. It was certainly refreshing to see a spinner bowling us to victory on a turning pitch. Something we have watched Lyon with hope and expectation for far too long with very little reward. Even if this was a momentary glitch in the 'well oiled at home' Indian cricket machine, it was still brilliant to watch. One dreams there might be more to come... it can't hurt to dream.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Pretty sure the story actually is that Hohns had nothing to do with SOK skipping the BBL. Pretty sure SOK himself said that after that test match he called Pat "High Performance Manager" Howard and asked him what he could do to get more red-ball cricket in leading into the Indian tour. That SOK himself made the decision to skip the BBL and play grade cricket, Second XI cricket, training at the academy and the like to prepare for India rather than play the BBL. The truth is, that even SOK believers, who were sure he'd be the best spinner for Australia in India, still wouldn't have seen 12/70 coming! Very happy to see it though!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Actually, Clarke got 6/9!
Blackfish
Roar Rookie
His problem in the first dig probably was the new ball, couldn't get it right. Gave the new ball to lyon in the second.
Perry Bridge
Guest
From what I can tell I agree with you. What remains to be seen of course is how this all translates out of Pune. And that is part of the wonderful anticipation of the next match and rest of the series. Heck - we've seen in India before anomalies such as Michael Clarke taking 6/19. I suspect India will play him with more respect and research (not just an outer Melb suburb!!). I suspect too - India pretty well hoisted the white flag in their 2nd dig. The hard slog might kick in for the next 3 tests - 1 up helps immensely - it will be very interesting to see the pitches that are presented.
JamesH
Roar Guru
It was nice to see two spinners bowling so well in tandem for Australia. That hasn't happened since the days of Warne and MacGill, despite how many times we've tried it in Asia.
Arky
Guest
It's a funny game. They go to lunch, I bemoan Australia picking two spinners as the impact bowlers so far in the game had been Umesh Yadav for India and Starc/Hazlewood for Australia, and SOK's first spell was tripe, and then he comes out after lunch and turns the world on its head.
doogs
Guest
The change of ends worked a treat for him as well. Even he admitted his first spell was dodgy. Then it was just amazing to watch. As you said, Lyon bowled well also and I was happy he got a four for at the end
jameswm
Roar Guru
In the 1st innings - his first spell wasn't great and his wickets had the element of batsmen not respecting him, rather than SOK bowling particularly well. Different story in the 2nd innings. Lyon's first over was sensational and SOK bowled beautifully, better than in the 1st innings. Funny what a shot of confidence does.