Good turn from O’Keefe has him in Test frame

STEVE O’Keefe gave himself the best chance of adding to his two Test caps with a fine all-round display in the only warm-up game ahead of Australia’s threeTest series in Sri Lanka.

Darren Lehmann’s men embarked on the tour having lost only one Test to Sri Lanka, in 1999, and they warmed up with a victory over a Sri Lankan XI by an innings and 162 runs thanks to brilliant final-day bowling.

Left-arm spinner O’Keefe was the pick of the bunch, collecting 10-64 in the match, while also chipping in with an unbeaten 78 in Australia’s only innings.

That could well be enough to propel him into the side alongside Nathan Lyon, who picked up a couple of wickets as the Sri Lankans were skittled for just 83 in their second innings.

And while Lyon remains the leader of Australia’s spin attack, he admits there is plenty of quality at skipper Steve Smith’s disposal ahead of the Test series that begins on Tuesday.

“We’ll definitely take a lot of confidence out of the victory,” said off-spinner Lyon, who made his Test debut on the last tour to Sri Lanka, in 2011.“Steve Smith came in and said,‘let’s really make a statement’. Taking nine wickets in a session to close out a first-class win is a pretty big statement.

“I’m the only one of our bowlers to have played Test match cricket over here so it was good for all our bowlers to get out here and adapt to conditions.

“A lot of us are coming off white-ball cricket so it’s also good to spend some time out there and get some long overs under our belt.”

Australia’s spinners have been boosted by working with Muttiah Muralitharan on the tour, and his efforts appear to be having an impact.

And if they do go with two spinners, it will mean greater responsibility for Mitchell Marsh, who insists he is ready to step up as a third seamer.

Marsh said:“I think if we’ve got two spinners I’ll probably bowl a bit more with the newer ball being the third seamer.

“It’s always nice in these conditions to bowl when the ball’s a little bit harder and potentially swinging a little bit, but I don’t really mind, I’ll just bowl wherever the skipper needs me to bowl.

“Whatever the selectors go with, I’ll just prepare as best I can.”

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are sweating over the fitness of seamer Dhammika Prasad, having already lost Dushmantha Chameera for the series, while uncapped spinner Jeffrey Vandersay is unlikely to be fit.

“Dhammika’s situation is not 100 per cent yet, but he’ll start bowling very soon,” said skipper Angelo Mathews.“Dushmantha Chameera won’t be available.”

Bulawayo will mark its return to the Test stage after a five-year absence when Zimbabwe host New Zealand in the first Test next Thursday.

Kane Williamson takes over the captaincy from the nowretired Brendon McCullum, while Ish Sodhi could win his first Test cap since 2014 after being recalled by the Black Caps.