GOAT to be a warhorse for Aussie spin crew
AUSTRALIA will rely on Nathan Lyon’s durable record in Test cricket being able to hold up for the entire Ashes series after Test back-up Steve O’Keefe was ruled out for the next six weeks with a broken a finger.
O’Keefe, a late inclusion in Australia’s touring squad to Bangladesh, suffered the break to a finger on his right, nonbowling hand in Sydney grade cricket for Manly and will miss most of the Sheffield Shield rounds in November.
It is a blow to Australia’s spin depth given fellow leftarmer Ashton Agar is still a month away from returning from finger surgery. The first Test at the Gabba begins on November 23.
Australia are yet to pick two spinners in a day-night Test but in the first two editions of the pink-ball clash at Adelaide, they have included a second spin option in their squad.
But that’s going to be difficult now that O’Keefe and Agar will have barely played before the second Ashes Test starts under lights in Adelaide on December 2.
Victoria’s Jon Holland is also out injured.
Lyon is likely the only spinner Australia will need for the Ashes, although he too was ruled out of the one-day clash against Victoria yesterday with a sore shoulder, sending a minor shiver down the spine of Australian selectors.
NSW have played down the seriousness of Lyon’s injury after he landed awkwardly in a match last Friday.
Lyon is not thought to be in doubt for NSW’s first Shield match against South Australia starting on October 27.