Steve O’Keefe urges Australia to prioritize preparation of red balls for Sri Lanka spinners

While the focus is on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the tug-of-war associated with a top-class batting centre, Australia’s selectors already have Sri Lanka in mind. The Test-Test series could be crucial to their hopes of finalizing the World Test Championship, especially after India’s defeat at home to New Zealand.

Murphy and Rocchiccioli get their first chance to secure a place in Australia A’s two matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne. The pair will play one game each and if each player is not playing they will spend time with Australia’s ODI squad to work one-on-one with bowling coach and New Zealand bowler Daniel Vettori.

Australia had thought that the first Test against Sri Lanka might start on January 29 but it is likely to start on January 26 as the dates are still being finalized between the two boards. It is understood that the officials want 10 days’ time to prepare for the overseas test tour and may fly to the UAE or Oman for the pre-series camp. If the first Test starts on January 26, it will mean that the Australian visitors can be eliminated from the BBL on January 15.

“I sat out the last six games of the Big Bash that season because I just said, no, that’s not the way I’m going to bowl there,” O’Keefe told ESPNcricinfo. “And I took a bit of criticism. I remember a couple of coaches coming out and saying, you’re going to come down to India and you can train for the Big Bash.

“I took that time out on purpose, I went to play some distance cricket, I played a Second XI game to get used to bowling with the red ball. I think if we’re really serious about the young spinners going there, whoever it is, he’ll accompany Nathan. [Lyon]is the Big Bash the best arrangement?

“I will encourage the selectors to quickly release the spinners and encourage those who push to practice with the red ball between the Big Bash matches.

“They’re two completely different ways of bowling. Actually, sometimes in Big Bash cricket you bowl your worst six balls into the batter, and you’ll be seven to ten days later asked to get it off the tea towel for 40 overs straight.

“It’s a change for hitters as well. The way you reduce that is muscle memory, and you need to train it.”

The BBL has arranged for a clear window for Australian Test players to appear between the end of the five-match India Test series, which ends on January 7, and the start of the Sri Lanka series. However, there were already concerns in CA’s well-functioning unit about the involvement of the Test players as their work comes out of what is expected to be a tough series. There are also concerns about Sri Lanka’s physical and technical preparation, as both Tests are likely to be played on variable pitches in Galle.

“It’s tough, because you come out of the Big Bash bowling cross-seam, cut shots and yorkers, and leg stump. [line] I need to put the ball in the same position every time and let the wicket do the work for me,” O’Keefe said.

“In Australia, we’re looking for overspin, because it’s a different game. Over there you need to be able to bowl that square spinner, which if you don’t swing it hits the shiny side, you slide and you get lbw. But that ball can hit the same spot and spin past the outside edge of the batter the one on the right [for a left-arm orthodox]. Is that easy to do? I think it takes a little practice. But knowing what Matt eats, and watching him in the bowl, I think he’s got it in his arsenal. I think Todd Murphy got it in his armory.

“I’ve watched Corey bowl. I think he’s got it, too. But he needs to throw a lot out there. So the preparation these guys will have is hopefully a month, but I think he needs a couple. In a couple of weeks in Australia, you might throw it once in the two overs, where you have to bowl it 10 times in 12 balls.”

Australia did not take an orthodox left-arm legspinner to Sri Lanka in 2022 with legspinner Mitchell Swepson partnering Lyon alongside two quicks, with support from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey spoke on Monday of his side’s desire to find left-handed bowlers for the upcoming continental tour.

“I’m very excited to put it out there publicly that it’s an amazing talent set on the continent,” he said. “We’ve seen that for many years. Actually, there aren’t a lot of players playing domestic cricket at the moment. It’s something we’re looking to continue to expose. It’s certainly one of the reasons why you’re excited about Cooper Connolly and his journey.

“It’s still a big work in progress in terms of his left arm rotation. But [beyond] Matt Kuhnemann, Ash Agar, there’s just not many players who can do it. We know that we will have many tours of the subcontinent, many tests where the skill set will be very desirable. So [we] encourage anyone who has it to work hard at it.”