The Sheffield Shield encounter between NSW and Western Australia beginning in Newcastle on Wednesday is shaping as a bowl-off between Ashton Agar and Steve O’Keefe for the second spinning spot on the upcoming Ashes tour.
The Blues sit top of the ladder, one spot above WA, following last week’s 156-run win over Victoria with O’Keefe and No.1 Test tweaker Nathan Lyon grabbing four wickets apiece in the second innings as the Bushrangers were skittled for 114.
O’Keefe’s overall match figures of 8-86 were his best of the season but he was eclipsed by Agar who finished with a maiden 10-wicket haul in WA’s thrilling draw with South Australia.
Agar was named man-of-the-match after taking his side to the brink of victory, only for his side to fall just three runs shy of victory as they chased 75 off eight overs.
The 21-year-old hasn’t donned the baggy green since the heavy defeat by England at Lord’s in the second Test of the 2013 series having made an huge impact on debut with a sparkling 98 – the highest-ever score by a No.11 batsman.
O’Keefe made his long-awaited Test debut alongside Lyon in the UAE last year against Pakistan, but struggled on a flat wicket, finishing with match figures of 4-217.
However, Blues teammate Kurtis Patterson believes the 30-year-old has been consistent enough this season to be in with a shout of making the Ashes squad.
“Steve is playing superbly at the moment and is at the height of his confidence and doing all the right things to take wickets,” Patterson told AAP.
“I don’t think the selectors will look at the fact he is bowling in tandem with Nathan as a reason to pick him. They will look at performance and judge consistency and both have shown that.
“I am sure Ash is doing the same for WA. He’s coming in off a 10-wicket game so it will be a good test to see how well those guys go.”
Lyon is the first spinner to be given a sustained run in the side since the retirement of Shane Warne in 2007 and bowled Australia to victory with seven wickets in the second innings to seal victory over India in the first Test at Adelaide two months ago.
Patterson believes the 27-year-old is now at the peak of his career and has mastered his craft as an off-spinner.
“He very much does his own thing and is very good at what he does,” he said.
“In Nathan and Steve we probably have two of the best spinners in the country and we’re very lucky to have them.”
