Steve O’Keefe took the bowling honours for Australia in Pakistan A’s first innings of their four-day match however paceman Peter Siddle has also emerged with a tick from coach Darren Lehmann.

While pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson (1-40 off 15 overs) bowled with plenty of fire on a dull pitch in Sharjah in Pakistan A’s 8-305, left-arm spinner O’Keefe boosted his hopes of a Test debut with figures of 3-76 off 23 overs.

And Siddle, who claimed 2-61 off 16 overs, was praised by Lehmann who says the quick is showing the benefits of a solid pre-season.

Siddle was dropped from the Test side during the series in South Africa in February. But the 53-Test veteran is pushing hard for a spot in the team to play against Pakistan in Dubai on October 22.

Lehmann said the pitch was good for batting on day one.

“Our bowling was pretty good, to be fair,” Lehmann told reporters during Thursday’s second day of play.

“O’Keefe was probably the stand-out bowler.

“It was good to see Peter Siddle get some pace back. He looked really good as well and Mitchell Johnson.

“Peter Siddle has done a lot of work with our bowling coaches and our strength coaches to make sure he’s getting the power back he needs.

“I’ve been really impressed with him.”

Siddle is pushing for a possible new-ball role alongside Johnson, with allrounder Mitchell Marsh a likely third seam-bowling option if he can prove his fitness in this week’s tour game.

That would allow Australia to hand O’Keefe his debut as a spin partner for offie Nathan Lyon.

Vegan Siddle, whose diet includes over a dozen bananas a day, was told by Lehmann during the South Africa tour that he needed to lift his bowling to around the 140 km/h mark.

Siddle admitted in July that he had been losing some pace but he was confident he could get it back by building up the strength of his legs and backside in the gym in the winter months.