The Conditions Dictate Me To Do Something Different And Use My Variations: Steve O’Keefe

Feb 24, 2017 at 5:17 PM

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The Conditions Dictate Me To Do Something Different And Use My Variations: Steve O’Keefe

Steve O’Keefe’s stunning spell, which yielded him record figures of 6/35, rocked India fatally as the hosts crumbled to 105 all out after being 94/3 at one stage. O’Keefe took everyone by surprise and wiped off the entire Indian batting order in just 39 deliveries after the lunch session. Only KL Rahul could show some class as he made 64.

The pitch’s nature and the fragility of the Indian batsmen was under the scanner on Day 2. If the first day was an evenly fought contest where Australia narrowly survived with the help of Mitchell Starc’s batting antics, Day 2 can perhaps be termed as a day of India’s humiliation. The paltry first innings total meant the hosts gave away a crucial 155-run lead to the tourists after losing a very important toss. And, by the end of the day, Australia had already added 143 runs to take their overall lead to 298 runs.

Wary of letting Indian spinner getting an upper hand, skipper Steve Smith led from the front with a superb unbeaten knock of 59 after David Warner and Shaun Marsh failed. Matt Renshaw’s struggle with his stomach continued as he could not turn out to bat at the start and eventually turned up at number 5. With almost three days and six wickets in hand, the Aussies would probably aim to swell the lead as much as possible and set a mountainous target for India.

Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin removed Mitchell Starc for 61 in the first over of the day and went past Kapil Dev for the most number of wickets taken by an Indian in a domestic season. However, a huge disappointment was waiting for the Indians.

Speaking at the post-match interview, Steve O’Keefe expressed the feeling after a record-breaking day of cricket. Here is what he had to say:

“It has been a good day. Everything went according to plan, well backed up by Handscomb in the field. And Steve Smith finished it off well with the lead close to 300. I have to tip my captain here. It wasn’t the most impressive start. I wasn’t bowling all that well in the first six overs. I had a change of ends and the wicket spin consistently and was backed up well by the back pads and the slippers. Some real fortune with the good catching.

“When I came back during lunch Boof (Darren Lehmann) game me a bump on my head and that is what I needed to hear. They are a class outfit and will come back hard in the second innings. We have to back it up again if we wish to win this game. It is nice to relate to Monty (Panesar), he bowls the same style as me and has a lot of success here.

“I have been working with Sri (Sriram) for a couple of years. He calms you down and that is what Steve Smith does as well. I was probably a bit nervous which is why I went back to what I knew and how I bowl in Australia. But the tap on the head from Boof was just what I needed. The conditions here dictate me to do something different. Had to use my variations and those changes helped me on this surface.”

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