After initially snubbing him for the ongoing Test series in Bangladesh, Australia have recalled left-arm spinner Steve O’keefe as a replacement for fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood who has been ruled out of the series after suffering a side strain on the third morning of the ongoing series opener in Dhaka.
The decision to select the spinner, who is still being under suspension from New South Wales, comes as a huge surprise as just a few days ago his international career looked as good as over after Australia selected young Ashton Agar in the squad with an eye on the future. However, the spin-friendly conditions in Bangladesh seem to force the selectors to change their minds.
“With Jackson Bird in the squad we are comfortable with our fast-bowling options for the second Test and have elected to add an additional spinner given the conditions we are likely to face in Chittagong,” national selector Trevor Hohns said.
O’Keefe was a surprise omission from the Test squad for the Bangladesh series after his performance in India earlier this year where he took a sensational 16-wicket haul in the Pune Test to help the team from Down Under win a Test in India after 13 years and also finished the series as Australia’s highest wicket-taker. However, things began to go downhill after the series. In April, he was handed a huge AUD 20,000 fine from Cricket Australia and suspended from the upcoming domestic one-day cup by New South Wales for his offensive behavior during an award function in Sydney. Later, he lost out on a Cricket Australia contract before being ignored for the Bangladesh series.
Furthermore, captain Steve Smith’s comments made it quite clear that O’Keefe was not in Australia’s plan anymore. Smith had said that Agar was included in the side with an eye on Australia’s next tour of India.
“We just see it as a bit of a time to get us someone new into the group,” Smith said before the start of the Dhaka Test. “Ashton has been around the group for a quite a while now, he’s worked on his art and he’s becoming a lot more consistent in what he’s doing. It’d be fantastic to see him get an opportunity.
“It’s four years until we next go to India which is always a tough tour for us and one that I particularly as captain want to win [at some point] throughout my tenure. It’s an opportunity for Ashton to get some experience in these conditions and hopefully improve, with an eye to the next time we go to India as well,” Smith added.
Meanwhile, fast-bowler Kane Richardson will replace Hazlewood for the upcoming five-match One-Day International series against India. Richardson’s inclusion will further bolster the Australia pace attack which already consists of Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile as well as all-rounders James Faulkner and Marcus Stoinis.
David Beakley, Australia’s physio, stated that Hazlewood would take several weeks to get fit and would be unable to tour India next month.
“Josh injured his left side whilst bowling during the first session of the match,” Beakley said. “This type of injury will require several weeks of rehabilitation, consequently Josh will be unavailable for the second Test against Bangladesh and subsequent ODI Series in India, and will return home for further assessment.”