Share

Australia to play two spinners in Sydney

Sydney - Stephen O'Keefe was named Saturday in a two-prong spin attack in Australia's side for the third Test against the West Indies in Sydney.

O'Keefe replaces injured paceman Peter Siddle in the only change to the team that trounced the Windies by 177 runs in Melbourne to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Siddle has not recovered from an ankle injury he sustained in the Melbourne Test and was not 100 percent fit for Sunday's final Test, skipper Steve Smith said.

"He (Siddle) felt it wasn't best for him to come into this Test match the way he is at the moment," Smith told reporters at the ground.

"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."

Smith said Australia had gone with the twin spin option as he expected the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch to turn.

"The wicket looks dry so I think it'll take some spin," he said.

It will be the first time in a decade that Australia will play two specialist spin bowlers at home, after leg-spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill bowled together against South Africa in Sydney in 2006.

O'Keefe will partner front-line spinner Nathan Lyon and the left-arm finger spinner said he was confident the pair could succeed bowling in tandem against the Caribbean tourists.

"I enjoy playing with Nathan, he is a humble, lovely guy who I admire a lot and fingers crossed we can get that opportunity again," O'Keefe said.

"There are a couple of situations we have bowled the majority of the overs and enjoyed going each side of the bat."

O'Keefe, 31, made one Test appearance against Pakistan in Dubai over a year ago, claiming four wickets in a 221-run loss.

He was named in Australia's Test squad to travel to Bangladesh in October last year before the tour was cancelled amid safety concerns.

O'Keefe has taken 17 wickets at an average of 25 in this season's domestic Sheffield Shield, and was included in the Test squad for the first-ever Adelaide day-night Test last month before being released.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh will provide the third seamer's spot behind opening bowlers Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson in the Australia pace attack.

Australia

David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
67% - 895 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
33% - 436 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE